The international community should support Taiwan in the face of threats from China, visiting Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei told the legislature in Taipei yesterday.
Giammattei, in a speech that made him the first head of state to address the legislature in 13 years, called on the international community and “the free world” to rally in support of Taiwan, which he said had long faced threats from across the Taiwan Strait.
Guatemala’s position has been to recognize and support the Republic of China (ROC) as an independent nation, Giammattei said.
Photo: CNA
He also underscored what he described as the importance of the international community respecting Taiwan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The 67-year-old president added that his current visit at the head of an official delegation was a testament to Guatemala’s opposition to “foreign aggression.”
Giammattei’s visit to Taiwan comes just weeks after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) traveled to Guatemala as part of her 10-day overseas trip and one month after another Central American nation, Honduras, switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
Photo: CNA
Giammattei said that while other nations had placed interests above friendship and changed allegiances, Guatemala, which established diplomatic relations with the ROC in 1933, remained committed to Taiwan.
Describing Taiwan as a longstanding strategic partner of Guatemala, Giammattei pledged to continue promoting the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
He also expressed gratitude for the Taiwanese government’s financial support for Guatemala over the years, including an estimated US$90 million in aid between 2013 and 2021, as well as scholarships given to young Guatemalans to study in Taiwan.
His speech, which was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers across party lines, was praised by Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) as “significant” at a time when “the expansion of authoritarianism has shrunk the space for democracies” in the world.
You also conferred an honorary medal on Giammattei in recognition of his contributions to “the promotion of friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala.”
Giammattei in the morning was welcomed by Tsai with a military salute at the Presidential Office Building.
The two held bilateral talks later in the afternoon, during which Tsai conferred upon Giammattei the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon in recognition of his contributions to the friendship between the two nations.
Tsai said that Taiwan and Guatemala had weathered the COVID-19 pandemic together, and are continuing to deepen cooperation in areas including economic affairs, public healthcare and medicine, culture and education.
Giammattei said that the alliance between the two nations is founded on a shared belief in mutual respect and support, upholding national sovereignty and the pursuit of democracy.
The nations’ bilateral relationship is based on proactive, steady and long-term diplomatic engagement and broad cooperation, rather than “frivolous diplomatic language,” he said.
He concluded his remarks by saying: “Long live free, sovereign and democratic Taiwan.”
Giammattei arrived in Taiwan on Monday for a four-day visit that includes meetings with government officials, Guatemalan students and representatives from Taiwanese companies present in the Central American nation.
The delegation includes Guatemalan Congressional President Shirley Joanna Rivera Zaldana, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores and Minister of Economy Janio Moacyr Rosales Alegria.
Additional reporting by Kayleigh Madjar
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