President You Si-kun: Calling on the democratic camp to be united to deter the torrents of authoritarianism to promote democracy around the world. 

Accompanied by Legislators Chiu Chih-wei, who is concurrently the chair of  the parliamentary friendship group between Taiwan and the Baltic states, Chiang Chih-chen, Chiu Chen-yuan and Chen Jiau-hua, President You Si-kun met and hosted a luncheon in honor of the chairs of parliamentary foreign affairs committees from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and Representative of the Lithuanian Trade Representative Office Paulius Lukauskas on the afternoon of August 8.

On behalf of Taiwan’s congress, President You firs of all expressed his sincere welcome to the first visit of the joint delegation of parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairs from the Baltic states–Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to Taiwan. He recalled that when he led a delegation to Europe in July last year, he and the delegation were warmly received. He was still grateful for the hospitality accorded to him and the delegation. In particular, he still remembered the warm welcome he received in Lithuania. Therefore, he was delighted to meet the delegation members again.

President You continued to state that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share similar history of pursuing democracy and freedom with Taiwan. They were all ruled and repressed by foreign authoritarian regimes. It is valuable that the Baltic countries never backed down. Instead, they strived for the free way of life with courage and determination. In 1989, more than two million people from the Baltic countries held their hands together to create the Baltic Way, which was greatly respected by the world. It also inspired the event 228 Hand-in-Hand rally launched in 2004 to shout to the world that the people of Taiwan oppose Chinese aggression.  

President You also stated that the Baltic countries and Taiwan uphold the values of freedom and democracy. In addition, they are all on the frontline facing the threats posed by the authoritarian regime. It had been more than a year since Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Baltic countries had provided unceasing assistance to Ukraine to shelter their refugees and to resist the aggression of Russia. Undaunted of the coercion from the big powers, they continued to provide staunch support to Taiwan to participate in international organizations and to withdraw from Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries to reduce the number of members from 17+1 to 14+1. The spirit demonstrated by the Baltic countries is just like David versus Golia, which he admired tremendously.

President You stressed that as a member of the international democratic community, Taiwan continues to consolidate its democracy to fight against China’s threats to Taiwan. When he was invited to the Hudson Institute for a keynote speech in May this year, he reminded the audience that “Taiwan’s is not the CCP’s ultimate goal or final destination. The CCP wants to see the East rise and the West decline. It wants to be a hegemon. Taiwan is but a steppingstone. When Xi met with Russian President Valdimir Putin on March 23, the two men reached a consensus to promote changes the likes of which have not been seen in a century. His intention to upend the international order could not be clearer and will bring more severe threats from both the East and the West.

President You further elaborated that the root cause of its ambition is the nature of the CCP regime, which is both communist and authoritarian. It believes in traditional Confucian ideas such as “There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two emperors on the earth,” and “All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people are subject to him.” The whole world, therefore, is subject to one ruler. It is comforting to hear the US President Bide stated on July 9 this year that “China indeed has the ambition to replace the US to become a global hegemony,” proving that the US had been alert about China’s true nature.

President You pointed that Taiwan stands with free and democratic allies, as well as on the frontline of safeguarding the world. We can say that protecting Taiwan equals to defending both Europe and the US. To ensure Taiwan’s security is to ensure the global public interest. Similarly, the Baltic countries are standing on the frontline in resisting the Russian hegemony to strive for the future of the entire European continent and all mankind. As he recalled history, when the Cold War was coming to an end, the people of the Baltic countries to demonstrate their yearning for democracy and freedom with the Baltic Way to show that when you run alone, you run fast. When you run together, you run far. The Baltic countries are standing on the frontline in resisting the big powers of Russia and China. He firmly believed that as long as all parties are united, the torrents of authoritarianism will be deterred to promote democracy around the world.

In his remarks, Chairman Marko Mihkelson thanked the Legislative Yuan for warm hospitality. He stated that this marked first time for the joint delegation of parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairs from the Baltic states–Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to Taiwan with the main purpose of furthering their understanding about Taiwan. He agreed with what President You stated that we are in a turbulent time. Global democratic community should be more united to face a bigger threat than that of the WWII. He continued to state that at the moment they met, tens of thousands of Ukrainians are fighting for their lives against Russian barbaric invasion and killings. He also stated that Russia will not only wipe out Ukraine, but also wants to rewrite history and to change global order, which coincides with China’s aim. Therefore, the entire global democratic camp should be more watchful. The current international order is the foundation for small countries to exist. Conflicts and war will only bring disaster. All of us witnessed in the 20th century. Therefore, the democratic camp should be more untied to stand together.

Luncheon banquet began after exchange of gifts and group photos. Before the banquet started, President You once again expressed his sincere welcome to the distinguished guests coming from afar. During the luncheon, both sides exchanged views on various issues and the banquet was concluded at 2 p.m. (E) 

Note: Delegation members

1. Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Riigikogu (parliament) Marko Mihkelson

2. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Žygimantas Pavilionis

3. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Saeima (parliament) Rihards Kols