YOU Si-kun: Thankful to Lithuania for watching closely on Taiwan’s presidential election and will continue to strength cooperation, exchanges and cordial relations with democratic allies.

Accompanied by Legislators Chen Pei-yu, Hsieh Yi-fong, Jang Chyi-lu, and Chen Jiau-hua, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Ya-shu, International Affairs Department Director Calvin C.F. Lin, Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh, European Affairs Department Director General Eric Huang, Lithuanian Representative to Taiwan Paulius Lukauskas, President YOU Si-kun met and hosted a luncheon in honor of the 11-member delegation of Taiwan Friendship Group from the Republic of Lithuania led by Chairman Matas Maldeikis on the morning of January 26.

First of all, President YOU welcomed Chairman Matas Maldeikis, Deputy Speakers Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Vytautas Mitalas and Julius Sabatauskas on behalf of Taiwan’s legislature. This heavy weight delegation is another Lithuanian delegation shortly after the visit of Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen in October last year, showing their attachment of great importance to Taiwan. President YOU referred to the visit in July 2022 when he led a delegation to Lithuania, and was warmly welcomed by the members of Seimas, which really touched his heart. Therefore, he was especially delighted to see so many old friends again.

President YOU continued to state that Lithuania is one of the most important allies of Taiwan. The mutual support rendered by both sides to each other in the international community is beyond the description of any words. President YOU thanked Lithuania for demonstrating true friendship with concrete actions. For example, during the pandemic, Lithuania provided Taiwan with much needed vaccines. Lithuania marks the first diplomatic ally of the People’s Republic of China to allow Taiwan to set up representative office. Lithuania withdrew from Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (17+1) mechanism and One Belt and One Road Initiative. Lithuania withered China’s irrational trade sanction and diplomatic repression. All of these instances show our friendship. In addition, Taiwan and Lithuania also demonstrate joint efforts in humanitarian assistance. For example, we successfully allow more than 1000 Ukraine students from kindergarten to 12 grades to return to school, showing that our cooperation is a force of good for the world.

President YOU thanked the delegation for traveling from afar to Taiwan to share the joy of smooth completion of democratic election. This year is a super election year. Seventy six countries including the United States with more than 4.2 billion people will be voting. Taiwan marks the second country to vote. Coincidentally, Taiwan’s election day January 13 is the Freedom Defenders Day of Lithuania in memory of those who lost their lives in resisting former Soviet Unions repression in 1991. It is also a Memorial Day to remind the us that we cannot take hard-earned freedom for granted.

President YOU stated that on this Memorial Day for fighting for freedom, the people of Taiwan sends a clear message to the entire world with more than 70% of turn out rate that we chose to firmly defend democracy, freedom and national sovereignty. We will continue to fight for the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law. In May and October, Lithuania is going to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, he wished Lithuania a great success.

President YOU continued to state that electoral system is one of the most valuable systems in democracy. It represents the possibility of choice, the freedom to participate in politics and the protection of free speech. All these rights that are impossible of the people under the authoritarian rule. However, authoritarian regimes are attacking democracy and disrupting international order. Hong Kong’s anti-extradition bill protests, the new Afghan administration, the military Junta government of Myanmar and Russian aggression of Ukraine are horrible instances. However, in the Putin-Xi meeting held on March 23, 2023 they reached a consensus to promote a “profound change never seen in a century.” Their attempt to change the existing order is evident. As democratic alliance, we need to raise awareness and take preventive measures.

President YOU continued to state that for a long time, China has claimed that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.” As a matter of fact, in accordance with international law, Taiwan and Penghu do not belong to China. Taiwan has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan and China are not subject to each other. Taiwan is by no means part of China. It is an ironclad fact that Taiwan and China are one county on each side of the Strait. However, China distorts the fact and continues to cause trouble in the Taiwan Strait by intimidating and threatening Taiwan with the use of force to causes tension of the Indo-Pacific and even the entire world.

President YOU continued to point out that Taiwan is not CCP’s ultimate destination. CCP political nature can be summarized 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 on the shores are subjects of the King.” Its goal is to see rise of the East and decline of the West. CCP wants to be global hegemony. Taiwan is its steppingstone to realize its ambition. If we do not stop its ambition and expansion, not only Taiwan but also the entire world will be threatened by China in the near future. No one can sit idle aside. President YOU hoped to work hand in hand to face the threats of the authoritarianism. I am convinced that as long as we work together to safeguard global democracy and prosperity, the flowers of democracy and freedom will continue to flourish.

In his remarks, Chairman Matas Maldeikis congratulated Taiwan’s successful  presidential and legislative elections. He stated the core of freedom and democracy is the mutual cooperation of institutions. The success of Taiwan’s successful elections showed that Taiwan is a full-fledged democracy. He continued to state that President YOU shoulders such a heavy responsibility, yet he always has a smile on his face and share poems with everyone. He really envied President YOU for always being so relaxing and poised. Chairman Maldeikis stated that the face of President YOU represents Taiwan’s spirit of fight for democracy. Over the past three years, the two parliaments have enjoyed cordial cooperation. As he said, this is just a beginning. Since Lithuania also belongs to the EU big family, based on the existing cooperation, he suggested that the future cooperation will be further enhanced to that with the European Parliament.

In her remarks, Deputy Speakers Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė thanked Taiwan’s warm welcome and friendship. She felt like coming home. She recalled vividly about President YOU’s visit to Lithuania in 2022, she felt it was just like yesterday. She echoed President YOU’s urge on the awareness of Taiwan’s security challenges from big neighbor. Lithuania also faces threats from Russia. She agreed with what President YOU stated that the two democracies should strengthen cooperation to stand up for freedom. On the Freedom Defenders Day of January 13, 1993, the yearning for freedom and democracy by the people of Lithuania stopped the aggression to freedom and democracy. As the chair of European Affairs Committee, she will commit herself to derisking to ensure economic growth as well as the supply of critical materials. She hoped that both parliaments will have more exchanges and engagements to promote friendship.

Before proposing a toast, President YOU once again mentioned about his trip to Lithuania in 2022. He was impressed and touched by Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen’s warm welcome to him and the delegation. During the luncheon, Chairman Matas Maldeikis wished Taiwan’s new legislature will continue to voice for the people of Taiwan to create a better future for the people of Taiwan. Both sides exchanged views on the results of Taiwan’s elections, gender ratio in the new legislature, Taiwan’s assistance to Lithuania when it faced China’s economic sanctions. Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Japan Arunas Valinskas mentioned about their visit to Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park. The tour guide himself was the victim of the persecuted by the authoritarian regime, making them impressed by the same struggles of both Taiwan and Lithuania when fighting for democracy and freedom.  

Three members of the delegation were born in January. They are Deputy Speaker Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Seimas Human Rights Committee Chairman Tomas Raskevicius, and Budget Committee Vice Chairman Liudas Jonaitis. President YOU prepared the well-known Lithuanian tree cake to share with the guests. It symbolized blessing and union. The happy birthday songs was sung in English, Lithuanian and Mandarin to wish them happy birthday. The luncheon concluded in a warm and joyful atmosphere after two hours. (E)