YOU Si-kun: China meddled in Taiwan’s elections democratic development. We need to be watchful for CCP ambition and authoritarian expansion.
On the afternoon of January 11, President YOU Si-kun met with 22 members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats delegation accompanied by Legislators Lim, Tshiong-Tso and Ho, Mark Chih-wei, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Shu-ya, and International Affairs Department Director Calvin C.F. Lin.
In his remarks, President YOU extended a sincere welcome to all distinguished guests on behalf of Taiwan’s legislature. President YOU still recalled vividly that he welcomed Friedrich Naumann Foundation Director Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff here on January 9 last year. President YOU continued to state that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats 30th Anniversary Public Conference was held in Taipei in September last year. It symbolized a recognition of Taiwan’s democratic achievements. Taiwan is one of the founding members. There are three Taiwanese political figures that have served as chairperson. Among them, Hsiao Bi-khim is the DPP vice presidential candidate this time. These facts fully testify to our joint efforts to safeguard the universal values of freedom and democracy, and our solid friendship.
2024 is a global super election year. More than 4.2 billion people from 76 countries around the world will be voting. Among which, Taiwan will be the second earliest country cast the vote. Facing China’s military and economic coercion, temptation, misinformation and cognitive warfare, Taiwan’s election is especially competitive. The result will not only impact the future of the 23 million people of Taiwan, but also will have profound significance to global geopolitics and security.
President YOU further pointed out that in recent years, Chinese military aircraft and navy vessels continue to be detected in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone and even cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait. According to the Ministry of National Defense, a total of 4,714 military aircraft were detected, equivalent to 393 per month on average. In addition, a total of 1,915 navy vessels were detected and 160 per month on average. Moreover, Chinese balloons were monitored and rockets with satellite vehicles were launched over the airspace of southern Taiwan. A few months ago, China announced to cancel tariff concession on partial Taiwanese goods exported to China to interfere Taiwan’s elections. During the Xi-Biden meeting in San Francisco in November last year, President Biden requested Xi to exercise restraint in Chinese military activities in and surrounding the Taiwan Strait and opposed Chinese interference in Taiwan’s elections. CCP’s blatant interference of Taiwan’s elections has drawn the attention of the international community. After China’s economic rise, it adopts the strategy of repression at home and expansion abroad. After Hong Kong, CCP’s attempt to invade Taiwan is increasingly evident.
President YOU urged the international community that Taiwan is not the ultimate destination of CCP. Its political philosophy can be summarized as “There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two emperors on the earth.” “All land under heaven belongs to the King, and all people on the shores are subjects of the King.” Its goal is to see “the rise of the East and decline of the West.” China’s ambition is to become a global hegemony. Taiwan is just its steppingstone to realize its ambition. After Putin-Xi meeting on March 23 last year, they have reached a consensus to promote a profound change never seen in a century is a concrete evidence.
On one hand, CCP breaks its promise of one country two system in Hong Kong. On the other hand, it launches militarization of the islands in South China Sea. Since 2013, China has engaged in major land reclamation and construction activities with military deployment. Xi Jinping breaks his non-militarization pledge in the Spratlys in 2015 to President Obama. In recent years, several conflicts occurred in South China Sea between China and the Philippines. China-India border disputes and tension in surrounding waters of Diaoyutai of the East China Sea demonstrated China’s ambition to become a hegemony in Indo-Pacific region. Its ambition has severely affected regional security and stability.
After a series of maritime conflicts between China and the Philippines, China’s ambition to continue to expand its influences is evident. We are worried that China’s next target will be surrounding countries in South China Sea. Therefore, protecting Taiwan is not just the sole responsibility of the government and people of Taiwan. If we do not stop China’s expansion. China’s threats will be imminent to every country. No country is an exception. Taiwan has been on the front line in fighting against authoritarian expansion and safeguarding global democracy and prosperity and will continue to protect global democracy and prosperity. In the future, Taiwan will continue to have close cooperation with international democratic allies to safeguard the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights. President YOU excused himself because of other engagements. Both sides bid farewell after mutual exchange of gifts and group photos.
In his remarks, Dr. Karl-Heinz Paqué, Deputy President of Liberal International as well as the head of the delegation stated that it was significant for hum to visit the Legislative Yuan, because Taiwan is a beacon of democracy and has transformed from an authoritarian regime to a full-fledged democracy 30 years ago. The delegation was impressed by Taiwan’s efforts to promote democratization. As President YOU mentioned, Taiwan faces CCP threats. The presidential and legislative elections to be held on January 13 will have profound impacts to regional, global and future situation. The elections results will convey a meaningful message to the region and the world. Deputy President Paqué once again thanked Taiwan’s warm welcome and hoped to celebrate with the people of Taiwan after the election was completed on Saturday. He continued to state that whenever he visited Taiwan, he was contagious by the spirit of optimism of the people of Taiwan. He expressed his respect to Taiwan to have such spirit even in such a complicated geopolitics. In closing, Deputy President Paqué wished Taiwan a great success in the future and reiterated that Liberal International will continue to stand together with democratic Taiwan.
When exchanging views, Secretary General Lin and Legislator Ho, Mark Chih-wei once again extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He shared how the budget bills passed when he served as the chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs in the eighth session of the 10th Legislative Yuan. He succinctly introduce the development of Taiwan’s indigenous self-defense weaponry. He stated that although the elections were extremely fierce, Taiwan has outstanding achievements in the fields of high-tech development, humanitarian aide, green energy and same sex marriage, further demonstrating the importance of democratic Taiwan. Facing China’s continuous threats, Taiwan will be committed to defending peace and democratic way of life. Legislator Ho concluded his remarks with the remarks of “democracy is beautiful but very fragile.” He hoped to work with the foreign dignitaries to do best to safeguard freedom and democracy.
Members of the delegation exchanged views with the legislator on issues of Taiwan’s elections, self-defense policy, national defense weaponry procurement and research and development. The 45-minute meeting concluded with an amicable atmosphere. The delegation watched the multimedia briefing of the Legislative Yuan after the meeting, followed by a tour of the compound of the legislature and chamber. (E)