YOU Si-kun: Grateful to Chairman Fisher for deepening Taiwan-Czech relations to defend freedom and democracy.

Accompanied by legislators Tsai Shih-ying, Lee De-wei, Chiu Chen-yuan, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Ya-shu, International Affairs Department Director Calvin C.F. Lin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Counsellor Yang Ken-chuan,  Legislative Yuan President YOU Si-kun met with he Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security Chairman Pavel Fisher and Mrs. Fisher on the morning of December 6.

   During his remarks, President YOU expressed his great delight to welcome old friend of Taiwan. He recalled that last July, when he led a cross-party parliamentary delegation to visit Czech Republic and delivered a keynote speech, they received warm welcome from Chairman Fisher and friends from the parliament. He still recalled vividly about the smiling faces of our Czech friends. Therefore, he was delighted to meet Chairman Fisher and Mrs. Fisher once again in Taiwan. 

President YOU continued to state that Chairman Fisher not only introduced a bill to support his visit to the Czech Republic with the delegation, but also arranged a meeting with the IPAC co-chairs, promote the relations between Taiwan and Czech Republic. On July 20 last year, his proposal was adopted in the Senate and called our relations as “two subjects of international law.” Undoubtedly, this is an encouraging and delightful present for Taiwan. Chairman Fisher’s belief in democracy and friendship with Taiwan are invaluable in the rapid changing international community that often puts interests above all things. On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature and the people of Taiwan, he wanted to take this opportunity to show his sincere respect to Chairman Fisher.

    President YOU continued to point out that the Czech Republic is one of the most important allies of Taiwan in Europe with many unprecedented cooperation, including the statement of parliamentary friendship signed when Speaker Adamová visited Taiwan in March this year, the direct flight between Taipei and Prague launched in July, Supply Chain Resilience Center (SCRC) established in your alma mater Charles University, the cooperative projects agreement that just signed on December 1 to help Ukraine. The solid friendship between Taiwan and Czech Republic is a testament to the mutual support and shared universal values between democratic allies. 

President YOU continued to state that according to the Freedom in the World 2023 report, it showed that global freedom declines for 17th consecutive year. The gap between the numbers of countries that improved and declined was the narrowest it has ever been since the negative pattern began. Democracy worldwide has been attacked by autocracy. In this time, the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong, the military junta in Myanmar, the authoritarian takeover of Afghanistan, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have demonstrated the corrosive effects of authoritarianism. In the Putin-Xi meeting on March 23 this year, Xi Jinping and Vladmir Putin reached a consensus to promote a change unprecedented seen in a century. Their attempt to change the existing international order is evident. Therefore, we should be more cautious to prevent the comprehensive threats caused by CCP.

President YOU continue to state that China has claimed in the international community that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. As a matter of fact, according to international law, Taiwan and Penghu do not belong to China. Taiwan has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China. It is an iron-clad fact that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. Taiwan and China are one country on each side of the Strait. However, China ignores the fact and continues to be provocative in  the Taiwan Strait by intimidating and pose a military threat to Taiwan. It has caused the tension of the Indo-Pacific region and the global situation.

President YOU continued to state that it is encouraging that the international community has been alert to the situation gradually. Many East Asian countries have taken active actions. On April 19, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that the Taiwan issues is a global issue and that Seoul is opposed to changing the cross-strait status quo by force. On May 5, the Philippine President suggested Philippine bass could be useful if Taiwan were attack. On May 10, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida shared that Taiwan’s security is a global issue. On July 9, US President Biden stated that it is China’s ambition to replace the US and establish regional hegemony. On August 1, French President Macron promulgated the military budget law for 2024-2030. This marks the first time to include safeguarding the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait in the law.

President YOU stressed that US arms sales to Taiwan is one of its ways to show support. On December 23 last year, President Biden signed 2023 National Defense Authorization Act into law to authorize up to US$10 billion (US$2 billion per year) in military grants and additional US$2 billion in direct loans for Taiwan from 2023 to 2027. On August 29 this year, the US government unprecedentedly announced to approve military aid to Taiwan under Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program with US$80 million to strengthen its defense capabilities. On December 1 this year, according to the update information released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan and the U.S. have signed a US$547 million (NT$17.2 billion) (US$547 million) weapons order for fighter jet missiles. These examples demonstrate the friendship to provide mutual support and protection among democracies. 

      In closing, on behalf of Taiwan’s congress, President YOU once again thanked the Czech Republic for its unswerving support to Taiwan. Chairman Fisher for arranging the IPAC annual meeting in Czech Republic on September 1 this year, focusing on security across Taiwan Strait and fighting against China’s autocracy. As long as we have courage and responsibility, democracy and freedom will overcome authoritarianism and totalitarianism to deter CPP from becoming a global hegemony and to continue to safeguard the world.

      In his remarks, Chairman Fisher expressed his honor to visit Taiwan and Legislative Yuan again. He stated that Legislative Yuan is the core of freedom and democracy. Taiwan and the Czech Republic share universal values of freedom, rule of law and democracy. He was honored to be awarded with the Friendship Medal of Honor from Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in the previous day. This medal recognizes his past efforts, but also represents his future commitment to Taiwan.

      He continued to mention that we faced a very dangerous international situation. He recalled vividly about President YOU’s visit to Prague in July 2022. He thanked President YOU for referring to the resolution passed in the Czech Senate and called our relations “two subjects of international law.” The message the relations wanted to convey is that regardless of the Czech Republic or Taiwan, people is the master to decide their future. We cannot ignore the threats against our national security just because of economic dependence.

      Chairman Fisher further elaborated that Europe found that energy supply had been weaponized during the Russian-Ukraine war. He reminded to learn from past lessons in case it is too late. He continued to refer that the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security is reviews bills related with energy security. He stressed that he will encourage the Czech government to double its efforts to increase resilience against Russian hostile activities. If we overdepend China for its economic supply, it will hurt the cooperation among democracies. There were shining examples during the COVID pandemic. There are many similar cased in the market. Chairman Fisher once again underscored that national security is the priority. If we rely on hostile countries too much, it will hurt our own freedom, democracy and sovereignty.

Chairman Fisher was impressed by the various strategic thinking and concrete strategy against the authoritarian regimes in his remarks. He agreed that it is important for global democratic partners to promote cooperation. There are still a lot of unfinished missions and we are capable to finish them. He was grateful for President YOU’s keynote speech in July 2022 in the Czech Senate. He still remembered President YOU’s warning about the threats of communism. Before he concluded his remarks, he related Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil’s greetings to President YOU. He stated that Senate President Vystrčil will continue to deepen bilateral cordial relations and promote exchanges and cooperation in the fields of semiconductor, economics and tourism. He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related government agencies for their arrangements with meaningful and interesting visiting programs. He wished our January elections every success.

During discussions, President YOU, Legislators Tsai Shih-ying, Lee De-wei, Chiu Chen-yuan and Chairman Fisher broadly exchanged views on Taiwan’s elections next year, deepening Taiwan-Czech cooperation, strengthening bilateral trade, economic and tourism exchanges, joint fight against the authoritarian regime, defending freedom and democracy, Russian-Ukraine war, IPAC meeting next year. The meeting concluded after one hour of vibrant interactions with amicable atmosphere and mutual presentation of gifts and group photos. (E)

Note: Guest list

The Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security Chairman Pavel Fischer and Ms. Klára Fischerová