The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

April 24, 2023

President You meets delegation led by Vice-president of the French Senate Alain Richard

You Si-kun: Thankful to Chairman of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group Alain Richard for his support to Taiwan. Taiwan is an independent sovereign country, which is an ironclad fact.

Accompanied by Legislators Tsai Shih-ying, Chiu Yi-ying, Chen I-hsin, Huang Shih-chieh, Chiu Chen-yuan, Chen Jiau-hua, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Roy Chun Lee, President You Si-kun met with and hosted a dinner banquet in honor of Vice-president of the French Senate Alain Richard, who also serves as chairman of the French Senate's Taiwan Friendship Group, Senators Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp, Valérie Boyer, and Brigitte Devésa, Executive Secretary Philippe Péjo and French Office in Taipei Director Jean-François Casabonne-Masonnave.at 5 p.m. in the afternoon of April 24.

The delegation toured the chamber as they arrived in the Legislative Yuan, followed by the press conference. The press asked the delegation’s view on China’s ambassador to France Lu Shaye’s statement that China’s launching missiles against Taiwan was not an act of aggression. On the contrary, the victim was China, because its’s territorial integrity was infringed. Chairman Richard responded by saying that they thought his statement was not appropriate. It was not his first time to have inappropriate actions or statements. Regarding the intensive PLA military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. France held a very clear stance that it was a dangerous, aggressive, and irresponsible act. Just like the past, the words and actions of the authoritarian regime are not in line with each other. In addition, the press asked this marked the fourth visit of Chairman Richard, whether this visit was to promote friendship between Taiwan and France. He responded that French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group promotes cordial relations and welcomes Taiwan’s legislators to visit France more often. This is the best way to enhance bilateral ties. The press also asked about Lu Sha-ye’s statement when he was interviewed by the press. He said that China can decide Taiwan’s destiny, and blamed the journalist illiterate, which caused the criticism of the public opinion. Can Chairman Richard accept such statement? He responded that when you repeated doing the same thing, it will lose its significance. Lu Shaye’s inappropriate words and actions were not appropriate. He stated that China could decide Taiwan’s destiny without asking the opinion of all Chinese. So we do not need to care about his statement.

After the press conference, the delegation proceeded to meet with President You. After the group photo, President You stated that he was very touched by Chairman Richard’s visit to Taiwan in 2021 with a delegation, unafraid of the pandemic and undaunted of China’s intimidation at that time. President You thanked Chairman Richard’s warm hospitality last July when he led a delegation to France. That visit was unprecedented for the French Seante to formally welcome the president of the Legislative Yuan. President You was pleased to meet with his old friends once again. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, he extended a sincere welcome to the delegation.   

President You continued to state that in recent years the global democratic landscape continued to shrink, such as Hong Kong’s anti-extradition bill protest, Myanmar’s junta government, the Afghanistan’s Taliban regime and Russia-Ukiraine war. In particular on March 23 this year, Putin and Xi Jinping reached a consensus to promote a change that has never been seen in a century. These instances have imposed severe threats to global democracies. President You also pointed out that France has tremendous contributions to promoting liberty and democracy in human history. For example, Montesquieu’s separation of powers, Rousseau’s Social Contract, Voltaire’s freedom of speech and the pursuit of French Revolution of liberty, equality and comparison have become the shared benchmark of all democracies.

President You continued to state that when French President Macron visited China early this month, his statement of avoiding to be engaged in US-China conflicts had led to criticism, and demonstrated Taiwan’s important role in defending global democracy, freedom and national interests of Europe and the US. US Secretary of State Blinken also stated that once there is a crisis in the Taiwan Strait, the whole world be severely affected. He thought that this fact could also bring different reflection for France.   

President You further pointed out that China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang and China’s ambassador to France Lu Shaye wrongly cited Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chiina’s territory. This is totally a lie, which was a contrary to Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai’s public support for Taiwan’s independence on various occasions. President You solemnly stated that San Francisco Peace Treaty signed by 49 countries and entered into effect on April 28, 1952 was the international legal framework that addresses the status of Taiwan. However, Article 2 of the Treaty did not refer to Taiwan’s sovereignty. It is natural that China cannot claim to have Taiwan’s sovereignty. Afterwards, Taiwan experienced a series of democratic reforms and alternation of political powers. According to the principles of sovereignty belonging to all people and UN Charter’s self-determination, Taiwan is an independent sovereignty country.  

After President You’s remarks, he conferred the first-class Medal of Honor for Parliamentary Diplomacy along with the certificate upon Chairman Richard at the witness of participating guests and the press in recognition of his support to Taiwan’s democracy and hoped to see future friendship continue to flourish.

After receiving the medal, Chairman Richard expressed his delight to have this honor. He had promoted the parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and France for a decade. When he was the minister of defense, he showed the same support to Taiwan. There is increasing support from the French Parliament to Taiwan. The number of Senate as well as National Assembly friendship group continues to increase. He reiterated his support to Taiwan’s democratic society. He continued to point out that Taiwan’s democratization is the result of pain and challenges. He wanted to show respect to all the Taiwanese democratic fighters. Taiwan is a role model of global democracies. Chairman Richard continued to state that French position on the Taiwan Strait is to oppose any unilateral change of the status quo of the stability across the Taiwan Strait, especially using force. Chairman Richard once again thanked President You for further deepening exchanges. 

After the remarks, both sides proposed a toast with champaign and exchanged gifts. Then they proceeded to the banquet hall for dinner. Before the dinner began, President You once again welcomed Chairman Richard and his delegation and thanked his hospitality accorded to President You and the delegation when they visited France. He thanked Chairman Richard for accompanying the delegation for almost every visiting program. The courtesy including security, traffic control and others were equivalent to diplomatic allies. President also thanked Senator Devésa for being with the delegation all the way from Provence to Paris. President You pointed out that there are 16 indigenous tribes in Taiwan. Each of them has its own special delicacy. Moreover, Taiwan was colonized by the Netherlands, Spain, Qing dynasty and Japan. Therefore, it has diversified cuisine culture. All distinguished guests are Taiwan’s most important friends. He hoped they would like the Taiwanese delicacies. He added that Kavalan Whisky was produced in his hometown Yilan. Kavalan is a Spanish, meaning the master of the plain. He saluted the delegation with Kavalan Whisky.