Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny C. Chiang receives eight-member delegation of parliamentarians from Northern and Central European countries; Vice President Chiang: Taiwan and Europe must deepen cooperation to jointly strengthen democratic resilience and technology supply chains.
On the afternoon of February 3, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) received an eight-member delegation of parliamentarians from Northern and Central European countries. He was accompanied by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang and DPP Legislator Chen Hsiu-Pao.
Vice President Chiang first extended a warm welcome to the delegation and presented each member with a red envelope symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. He said that with the Lunar New Year approaching, he hoped this visit would allow the visiting delegates to experience the warmth of Taiwan’s traditional festivities and wished them peace and success in the coming year. Vice President Chiang then joined attending legislators and the delegation for a group photo in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang, on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), sincerely welcomed parliamentarians from Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. He noted that members of the delegation are long-standing and steadfast democratic partners of Taiwan, who have repeatedly spoken in support of Taiwan in international forums, with several having visited Taiwan multiple times. Vice President Chiang said that these interactions demonstrate the strong foundation and continued deepening of Taiwan–Europe democratic partnerships, as well as the stable and enduring friendship ties between Taiwan and European parliaments.
Vice President Chiang further noted that although Taiwan and Northern and Central Europe are geographically distant, they are closely aligned in core values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, making them “close in values despite the distance.” He said that Taiwan closely follows developments in Europe’s political, economic, and security landscape and empathizes deeply with the Russia–Ukraine war and regional conflicts, hoping for an early end to hostilities and the restoration of global peace and stability. Vice President Chiang emphasized that under the current international environment, Taiwan and Northern and Central European countries stand on the front lines of regional security and face similar geopolitical pressures. He expressed deep respect for the resilience demonstrated by these European countries and expressed hope that both sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and hydrogen power development, jointly building a “democratic technology supply chain” and establishing a stable and long-term platform for cooperation.
Head of the delegation, MP Dr. Žygimantas Pavilionis, on behalf of the delegation members, thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for their warm reception. He noted that many members of the delegation serve on parliamentary committees related to foreign affairs and national defense and therefore have a deep understanding of the security threats posed by geopolitical challenges. MP Pavilionis added that war is not a distant issue for Europe and every country must enhance their preparedness in both security and economic domains. He expressed hope that through this visit, the delegation would gain valuable insights into Taiwan’s experience in national security, economic development, and the protection of critical infrastructure, as well as opportunities to exchange views on international cooperation initiatives such as risk management of submarine cables.
During the exchange, Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang expressed great respect for the delegation’s long-standing commitment to regional security and noted that countries should jointly focus on the sustainability and overall resilience of defense capabilities. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening professional military education and talent development, as well as enhancing the protection and cooperation of critical infrastructure, such as power systems, in order to comprehensively improve the security and defense capacity of democratic nations.
Legislator Chen Hsiu-Pao stated that Taiwan and Northern and Central European countries have broad potential for cooperation in both democratic values and industrial development. She emphasized that partnerships should extend beyond security to include economic, cultural, educational, and academic dimensions, and expressed hope for continued exchanges to jointly uphold universal values and enhance societal resilience.
Both sides engaged in extensive discussions on defense capabilities, technological development, cross-strait relations, geopolitics, digital governance, and sustainable development. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded successfully in a friendly and cordial atmosphere following the exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo. (2026/02/03)
Vice President Chiang first extended a warm welcome to the delegation and presented each member with a red envelope symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. He said that with the Lunar New Year approaching, he hoped this visit would allow the visiting delegates to experience the warmth of Taiwan’s traditional festivities and wished them peace and success in the coming year. Vice President Chiang then joined attending legislators and the delegation for a group photo in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang, on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), sincerely welcomed parliamentarians from Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. He noted that members of the delegation are long-standing and steadfast democratic partners of Taiwan, who have repeatedly spoken in support of Taiwan in international forums, with several having visited Taiwan multiple times. Vice President Chiang said that these interactions demonstrate the strong foundation and continued deepening of Taiwan–Europe democratic partnerships, as well as the stable and enduring friendship ties between Taiwan and European parliaments.
Vice President Chiang further noted that although Taiwan and Northern and Central Europe are geographically distant, they are closely aligned in core values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, making them “close in values despite the distance.” He said that Taiwan closely follows developments in Europe’s political, economic, and security landscape and empathizes deeply with the Russia–Ukraine war and regional conflicts, hoping for an early end to hostilities and the restoration of global peace and stability. Vice President Chiang emphasized that under the current international environment, Taiwan and Northern and Central European countries stand on the front lines of regional security and face similar geopolitical pressures. He expressed deep respect for the resilience demonstrated by these European countries and expressed hope that both sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and hydrogen power development, jointly building a “democratic technology supply chain” and establishing a stable and long-term platform for cooperation.
Head of the delegation, MP Dr. Žygimantas Pavilionis, on behalf of the delegation members, thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for their warm reception. He noted that many members of the delegation serve on parliamentary committees related to foreign affairs and national defense and therefore have a deep understanding of the security threats posed by geopolitical challenges. MP Pavilionis added that war is not a distant issue for Europe and every country must enhance their preparedness in both security and economic domains. He expressed hope that through this visit, the delegation would gain valuable insights into Taiwan’s experience in national security, economic development, and the protection of critical infrastructure, as well as opportunities to exchange views on international cooperation initiatives such as risk management of submarine cables.
During the exchange, Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang expressed great respect for the delegation’s long-standing commitment to regional security and noted that countries should jointly focus on the sustainability and overall resilience of defense capabilities. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening professional military education and talent development, as well as enhancing the protection and cooperation of critical infrastructure, such as power systems, in order to comprehensively improve the security and defense capacity of democratic nations.
Legislator Chen Hsiu-Pao stated that Taiwan and Northern and Central European countries have broad potential for cooperation in both democratic values and industrial development. She emphasized that partnerships should extend beyond security to include economic, cultural, educational, and academic dimensions, and expressed hope for continued exchanges to jointly uphold universal values and enhance societal resilience.
Both sides engaged in extensive discussions on defense capabilities, technological development, cross-strait relations, geopolitics, digital governance, and sustainable development. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded successfully in a friendly and cordial atmosphere following the exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo. (2026/02/03)