A delegation from the Canadian House of Commons is scheduled to arrive in Taipei today for a visit focused on national defense, foreign affairs and security.
Unlike previous Canadian visits that sought cultural or economic exchanges, the 10-person delegation aims to enhance cooperation in security in response to Chinese interference.
The group is to be led by Canadian Member of Parliament John McKay, who is chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defence and led a delegation to Taiwan in 2003. Other members include lawmakers focused on foreign affairs, such as Michael Chong (莊文浩), Heather McPherson and Stephane Bergeron. Lawmakers with a national defense focus include James Bezan and Randall Garrison, while Raquel Dancho and Ken Hardie work on public safety and national security.
Photo courtesy of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto via CNA
Forming a delegation of heavyweight lawmakers from Canada’s four major parties “shows the importance we attach to Taiwan,” McKay said.
Without formal diplomatic relations, parliamentary diplomacy can be an important communication channel, he said.
The report “Canada and Taiwan: A Strong Relationship in Turbulent Times,” published on March 30 by the Canadian House Special Committee on the Canada-People’s Republic of China Relationship, delves into Taipei-Ottawa ties, he said, adding that the freedom and democracy in Taiwan are a model for the world.
As Canada seeks to increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, it is important to work with Taiwan, a like-minded country, he said.
In addition to meeting the president and vice president, McKay said he is looking forward to exchanging ideas with the Ministry of National Defense and national security agencies.
He wants to learn about Taiwan’s successes in combating disinformation from China, as Canada is also striving to tackle Chinese interference, he said.
Regarding Beijing’s response that the report was an attempt to “obscure and hollow out the ‘one China’ principle,” McKay said that China can criticize and oppose it, but Canada has absolute autonomy to act according to its wishes.
Scott Simon, a social sciences professor at the University of Ottawa, said he is happy to see the delegation visit Taiwan and urges the nations to cooperate on national defense.
Canada can invite Taiwan to be an observer at the Rim of the Pacific military exercises, initiate a coast guard partnership with Taiwan, and enhance cooperation in network technology and artificial intelligence, he said.
Canada has made clear that its “one China” policy does not acknowledge the claim that Taiwan is part of China, so visits paid by government officials are not problematic, he said.
Simon said that Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng (伍鳳儀) would also visit Taiwan soon.
She has had several discussions with Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) on a foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement, he said.
Representative to Canada Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) thanked Ottawa for its support of Taiwan, adding that the two countries maintain a cooperative relationship on a wide range of issues.
Sending senior lawmakers with expertise in national defense and foreign affairs to discuss issues at this time is of great significance, he said.
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
EVA Airways president Sun Chia-ming (孫嘉明) and other senior executives yesterday bowed in apology over the death of a flight attendant, saying the company has begun improving its health-reporting, review and work coordination mechanisms. “We promise to handle this matter with the utmost responsibility to ensure safer and healthier working conditions for all EVA Air employees,” Sun said. The flight attendant, a woman surnamed Sun (孫), died on Friday last week of undisclosed causes shortly after returning from a work assignment in Milan, Italy, the airline said. Chinese-language media reported that the woman fell ill working on a Taipei-to-Milan flight on Sept. 22
COUNTERMEASURE: Taiwan was to implement controls for 47 tech products bound for South Africa after the latter downgraded and renamed Taipei’s ‘de facto’ offices The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still reviewing a new agreement proposed by the South African government last month to regulate the status of reciprocal representative offices, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. Asked about the latest developments in a year-long controversy over Taiwan’s de facto representative office in South Africa, Lin during a legislative session said that the ministry was consulting with legal experts on the proposed new agreement. While the new proposal offers Taiwan greater flexibility, the ministry does not find it acceptable, Lin said without elaborating. The ministry is still open to resuming retaliatory measures against South
The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) has made a three-phased compulsory evacuation plan for Hualien County’s Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) disaster zone ahead of the potential formation of a typhoon. The plan includes mandatory vertical evacuation using air-raid-style alarms if needed, CEOC chief coordinator Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) told a news conference in the county yesterday. Volunteers would be prohibited from entering the disaster area starting tomorrow, the retired general said. The first phase would be relocating vulnerable residents, including elderly people, disabled people, pregnant women and dialysis patients, in shelters and hospitals, he said. The second phase would be mandatory evacuation of residents living in
RSS