Awareness of the importance of Taiwan and support for the country have been growing in Canada, Canadian Senator Michael MacDonald said yesterday.
MacDonald, who is cochair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, is leading a delegation to Taiwan and met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Although there has always been latent support for Taiwan in Canada, appreciation for how important it is to stand up for Taiwan’s freedom and for its right to exist has always been lacking, he said.
Photo: CNA
However, Canadians now see Taiwan as a great partner economically and socially, and hope to continue boosting ties, a change that is “gratifying to see,” he said.
“Taiwan is a country that should be emulated around the world,” he said, adding that all democracy-loving free people should salute Taiwan for its accomplishments.
Tsai thanked the lawmakers for participating in Double Ten National Day celebrations and continuing to speak out for the nation in the Canadian parliament.
Hopefully, Canada, as next year’s chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), would support Taiwan’s bid to join the bloc, Tsai said.
On Thursday night, the delegation attended a banquet hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), to whom MacDonald presented a copy of the Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act as a demonstration of the Canadian parliament’s firm support for Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release yesterday.
The bill aims to bolster security cooperation between Taiwan and Canada, as well as people-to-people ties in economic, cultural and legal affairs.
The bill supports Taiwan’s participation in international trade agreements, including the CPTPP.
It also supports Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and permits the office representing the nation in Canada to be referred to as the “Taiwan representative office” and the Trade Office of Canada in Taipei to be referred to as the “Canadian representative office in Taiwan.”
The first reading of the bill was completed in the Canadian House of Commons in June.
The visit to Taiwan provided the delegation with a deeper understanding of its political and economic development, MacDonald said, adding that he “was honored to witness in person that Taiwan has realized the values of democracy, freedom and human rights advocated by Canada.”
Separately, former US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft acknowledged Taiwan’s contribution to the world and expressed confidence that Washington would continue to stand with Taiwan.
Craft and other guests at the Yushan Forum on Wednesday and Thursday met with Tsai at the Presidential Office yesterday.
Taiwan is “a model to the world of how to take care of its people” during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating how innovative, ingenious and generous people can contribute to solving global problems, Craft said.
Under Tsai’s leadership, Taiwan displayed an unwavering commitment to maintaining the “status quo,” and pursuing peace and prosperity in the face of Chinese intimidation, she said.
Craft said that Americans would continue to support Taiwan as they support Ukraine and Israel, as “an attack on free people is an attack on all free people.”
Freedom is the most powerful force, and is what dictators and terrorists most fear, she said.
“Freedom will prevail and Taiwan will prevail,” she said.
Tsai thanked the guests for sharing their observations and insights on Taiwan issues.
Taiwan will deepen partnerships with like-minded countries to safeguard regional peace and stability, she said.
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