No country can ignore the problems posed by authoritarianism, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, while calling for France’s continued support, as stability in the Taiwan Strait is important for peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
Taiwan will continue to work with democratic allies to safeguard regional security against authoritarian regimes, Lai said in a meeting with a visiting French delegation at the Presidential Office.
The nation cherishes its friendship with France, he said, thanking the French National Assembly for approving a resolution in November 2021 to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, and for the French government repeatedly underlining the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
The four-member delegation, headed by French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, arrived in Taiwan on Monday.
They yesterday also met with Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?).
Bothorel reiterated to You France’s support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan can do more than maintain the “status quo” by continuing to strive for freedom, democracy and human rights, as well as relations between the government and the public, he said.
He met with a Taiwanese delegation of cross-party legislators in Paris last week, before attending the semiannual World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce conference with French Minister Delegate for Industry Roland Lescure.
The meetings demonstrated the importance of exchanges between Taiwan and France, which is also why the delegation organized this week’s visit, he said.
“Taiwan for the world, the world for Taiwan,” he said, in a variation of the phrase “all for one, and one for all,” associated with the French classic The Three Musketeers.
Bothorel also said that the delegation on Monday had a fruitful meeting with Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang (唐鳳).
Tang and the delegation agreed that Taiwan and France should deepen digital collaboration to make the Internet a resilient space where human rights, freedom and mutual trust are ensured as laid out in the Declaration on the Future of the Internet, he said, referring to a document signed last year by Taiwan, France and more than 50 countries.
You thanked Bothorel for voicing support for Taiwan at international events and warning about the effects of a “Taiwan contingency” on the entire world.
Free and democratic countries around the world have the moral responsibility to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is in line with the interests of France and other European countries, he said.
China’s authoritarian system and hegemonic mentality pose a huge threat to peace in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world as it attempts to challenge international order, he said.
“To protect Taiwan is to defend global democracy and freedom, as well as the interests of Europe, the US and other countries,” he added.
The delegation attended a banquet presided over by You, who said it included cuisine and whiskey from his native Yilan County.
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