YOU Si-kun: Deepening Taiwan-Europe relations is based on the cordial relations with European Parliament.
Accompanied by Legislators Chiu Tai-yuan, Wu I-ding, Wu Hsin-ying and Chen Jiau-hua, Secretary General Lin, Consultant Chou Ya-shu, Legislative International Affairs Department Director Kevin C. F. Lin, Deputy Foreign Minister Chung-kuang Tien, and European Affairs Department Deputy Secretary General Lee Hsio-yau, President You met the delegation led by First Vice Chair of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group Andrey Kovatchev on the afternoon of October 31.
In his remarks, President You expressed his honor to welcome distinguished guests from European Parliament once again. On behalf of Taiwan’s congress, He wanted to extend a warm welcome to them. He stated that European Union is Taiwan’s strong ally. European Parliament has been active in supporting and assisting in Enhancing Taiwan-EU relations. Over the past two years, European Parliament passed 25 resolutions in favor of Taiwan, supporting Taiwan’s international participation, concerning about Indo-Pacific security, and situation across the Taiwan Strait, urging Taiwan and EU to strengthen semiconductor economic cooperation, and calling on to sign bilateral investment agreement（BIA）as soon as possible to enhance closer cordial relations between Taiwan and Europe. On October 24, The Committee on International Trade of European Parliament past a resolution recently to request EU to sign agreement on supply chain resilience. On behalf of Taiwan’s congress, He wanted to express his most sincere appreciation to European Parliament. He also asked distinguished guests to fully support this resolution in November when the European Parliament plenary session put this in vote to promote more cooperation between Taiwan and Europe.
President You continued to thank Vice-Chair Kovatchev for his longstanding support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and assistance in deepening Taiwan-EU ties. In 2012, when Vice-Chair Kobatchev served as the reporter of the Committee on Foreign Relation of deliberating the bill concerning about Schengen visa waiver program for Taiwan in the European Parliament, because if his string support, the bill was passed with 559 against 40. After Schengen visa waiver program took effect on January 11, 2011, the R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport holders can visit more than 30 European countries with this treatment, which has profound significance in enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and European countries. In addition, the president also thanked MEP Štefanec for voicing in support of Taiwan when he served as president of Slovakia-Taiwan Friendship Group and member of European Parliament. President You thanked MEP López for sending joint letter several times to support Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly to express his care about the health rights of the people of Taiwan with concrete actions. Taiwan is grateful for their support.
President You pointed out that as the global democratic landscape continue to shrink, and the authoritarian regime continues to expand, Taiwan as the only democracy in the Chinese-speaking communities, is facing China’s economic coercion, diplomatic isolation, military intimidation, cyberattack, and disinformation. Increasing number of Chinese fighter jets harass Taiwan, even intruded into our Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), posing a severe threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region.
President You stressed that crisis in the Taiwan Strait is not an issue for Taiwan but for the Indo-Pacific region as well as the entire world, because China’s ultimate goal is not Taiwan, but intends to become a global hegemony. On March 23, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin reached a consensus of promoting an unprecedented change that has never Sen for a century, trying to joinly change the existing international order. At the end of August this year, China published New Standard Map 2023, unilaterally included Taiwan, South China Sea islands and disputed territory with India. China’s action are based on its traditional political stance, which can be summarized as “there cannot be two suns in the sky nor two emperors on the Earth” and “all lands under heaven belong to the emperor; the people of those lands are subject to the emperor.” Its ambition to become a global hegemony is very apparent.
President You continued to state that an increasing number of western countries are highly alert to China’s threats to Taiwan, Indo-Pacific region and global peace and stability. In May, G7 Hiroshima Summit reiterated the importance of the security in the Taiwan Strait. Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and the Phippines form a crescent defense line to prevent China’s external expansion. In July President Biden stated without any hesitation that China indeed has the ambition to replace the US to become a global hegemony. In August, French President Macron enacted Military Programing Law (LPM) 2024-2030. Fin accordance with international law, France will actively defend the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan will continue to safeguard peace and stability in Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. The president urged democratic alliance to continue to be united to deter the external expansion of the authoritarian regime.
President You concluded his remarks by thanking the European Parliament for its longstanding support of Taiwan. The world is facing unprecedented daunting challenges. Democratic countries should strengthen cooperation to safeguard the universal values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and human rights and protect the rules-based international order and global peace and stability.
On behalf of the delegation, First Vice-Chair Andrey Kovatchev thanked the invitation of the Legislative Yuan. The World is facing challenging global events, such as Russian aggression against Ukraine and recent Israel and Hamas conflicts. Global peace an stability are fragile. Therefore, cooperation between like-minded democratic partners is more important than ever to ensure peaceful settlement of conflicts. The underscore the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait and oppose any unilateral change of status quo. He also mentioned about European Union enjoyed longstanding partnership with Taiwan. He thanked President You for mentioning about him in 2012 when he was the reporter of the Committee on Foreign Relations when the EU was considering to grant Schengen visa waiver privilege to Taiwan. This bill has brought the closer rations between people and businesses, but also helpful to EU and Taiwan.
The European Parliament in recent years has voiced in favor of Taiwan on numerous occasions urging Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. This will not only benefit but also contribute to the world. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s profession and knowledge set a role model for the world. He sincerely hoped Taiwan can WHO, ICAO, Interpol, UNFCCC and other international organizations. He concluded his remarks by expressing his willingness to deepen relations with Taiwan. He stated that European Parliament also hoped to launch negotiations BIA to strengthen economic and trade ties to promote investment. He looked forward to more concrete results.
During discussion, President You, Legislators Chiu Tai-yuan, Wu I-ding, Wu Hsin-ying and Chen Jiau-hua discussed with the delegation members on issues related with global security, Taiwan’s national security democratic initiatives, climate change, sustainable energy development, Taiwan’s election, domestic law in line with international law, medical system, Taiwan’s international participation, digital law, Taiwan’ semiconductor industry development. The delegation members support Taiwan’s participation in more international organizations and international affairs. They reiterated this stance remain unchanged. Peace in the Taiwan Strait has always been a very important issue. They thanked Taiwan for mutual assistance with the EU during the pandemic. Slovakia provided Taiwan with vaccine doses, while Taiwan provided face masks and protective equipments.
President You thanked the delegation once again for their recognition and support of Taiwan. Both sides had vibrant discussion. The meeting concluded after an hour of discussion , mutual presentation of gifts and a group photo in an amicable atmosphere. (E)
Delegation members:
- MEP Andrey Kovatchev, First Vice-Chair of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group
- MEP Ivan Štefanec: Member of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- MEP Leopoldo López Gil: Vice-Chair to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Delegation, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Bilyana Mircheva: political adviser to MEP Andrey Kovatchev
