The Legislative Yuan

        Press Release      
April 10, 2023

President You Si-kun received and met 14-member Canadian parliamentary delegation led by Chair John McKay of the Committee on National Defense.

You Si-kun: Economy is important, but if freedom, equality and compassion are lost, mankind will be fallen to an abyss of jungle rules and cannot be returned to the civilized world. At that time, we cannot be accountable to this generation and generations to come.

Accompanied by Legislators Chung Chia-pin, Chiu Chen-yuan and Wang Wan-yu, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Ya-shu, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Jim Nickel, Taiwan’s Ambassador Harry Ho-jeng Tseng to Canada, Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun received 14-member Canadian parliamentary delegation led by Chair John McKay on today （10th) afternoon.

In his remarks, President You stated that he met the delegation members for the first time, but felt they are old friends, because he visited Canada, this beautiful and great country for a multiple times. He continued to state that both Taiwan and Canada uphold freedom, democracy and human rights. On behalf of Taiwan’s congress, he extended his utmost respect and appreciation to Canadian parliament for its longstanding cross-party support to Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. He continued to state that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly supported Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly as an observer in 2020, and reiterated his stance in the parliament on April 14, 2021. The Canadian Parliament supported Taiwan to participate in World Health Assembly, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection with joint signature or individual letter.

President You continued to point out that China’s wolf warrior diplomacy and its hegemonic rise hurt Canada. One example is Canada’s former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessperson Michael Spavor detained by China for more than 1000 days Canadian Prime Minister therefore urged global solidarity to prevent being divided by China. He also urged the international community that Economy is important, but if freedom, equality and compassion are lost, mankind will be fallen to an abyss of jungle rules and cannot be returned to the civilized world. At that time, we cannot be accountable to this generation and generations to come. He continued to point out that China's authoritarian regime adopts genocide and religious persecution at home. It violated its pledge to the United Kingdom of maintaining one country, two systems for Hong Kong. It employed Belt and Road Initiative and wolf warrior diplomacy abroad and even claimed sovereignty over Taiwan. All of these moves have caused the tension in the Indo-Pacific region, and caused tremendous threats to global peace.

President You continued to state that in the Indo-Pacific strategy released by Canada in November last year, it explicitly pointed out that “China is an increasingly deisruptive global power.” According to the report, China has become more ignorant of international rules, and attempts to become an Indo-Pacific hegemony. It shaped an international order and values that favor China, but are against Canada’s belief. He also stated that the way China treated Canada, such as hostage diplomacy, economic coercion, stealing  scientific research results, electoral intervention, intimidation and control ethnic Chinese citizens also happen to Taiwan. He hoped that the exchanges that day would have fruitful results.

In his remarks, Chair McKay thanked President You for his warm hospitality. He introduced the heavy weight members of the delegation, who all served important posts in the parliament. He hoped that this visit would enhance exchanges with Taiwan on Security and national defense issues. In addition, Canada has suffered tremendously by foreign intervention. He hoped to exchange experiences with Taiwan during this visit. He continued to state as President You mentioned that economic development is important, but he agreed that values are more important. He saw the increasingly compatible values between Taiwan and Canada in recent years. Taiwan is facing crisis. As world tension escalates, Canada will stand with Taiwan, because Taiwan is not only about Asia, but also a role model of world democracy with unprecedented history of democratization. He looked forward the interaction that day.

Dinner banquet started after both sides exchanged gifts. Before the banquet, President You once again extended warm welcome to Canadian delegation to Taiwan on behalf of Taiwan’s congress. He mentioned that his hometown is Ylan, where produces Kavalan Whisky. Kavalan is named after indigenous people of Ylan. He continued to state that Dr. McKay as a medical missionary had profound influence to Ylan and saved numerous Kavalan people. They did not have a name of the Han tribe. As a result, many of them changed their last name to Kai.

Last year marked150th anniversary of Dr. McKay’s arrival in Taiwan. He hoped that this story to prove that there were indigenous people in Taiwan thousands years ago. After the Age of Exploration, Taiwan was colonized by the Dutch, Spanish, Ming dynasty Quoxingya, Qing dynasty and Japanese. Taiwan thus has rich and diversified cuisine culture. Therefore, Taiwanese local cuisines were prepared for the banquet to welcome the delegation. Banquet was held in an amiable atmosphere. Both sides had a pleasant conversation and exchanged views on issues related with national defense, high-tech and foreign intervention.

Note: Participating parliamentarians

1. Hon. John McKay, Chair of the Committee on National Defense, Member of Parliament

2. Hon. Michael Chong, Vice Chair of the Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship, Member of Parliament

3. Mr. Ken Hardie, Chair of the Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship, Member of Parliament

4.Ms. Cheryl Gallant, Member of Parliament

5.Mr. Stéphane Bergeron, Vice Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Member of Parliament

6. Mr. James Bezan, Vice Chair of the Committee on National Defense, Member of Parliament

7. Mr. Randeep Sarai, Member of Parliament

8. Ms. Heather McPherson, Vice Chair of Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship, Member of Parliament

9. Ms. Raquel Dancho, Member of Parliament

10. Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen, Member of Parliament