Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin met with the “Canadian National Security Affairs Visiting Delegation” today (21st), stating that Taiwan and Canada have close economic and technological exchanges, and cultural and educational exchanges lay the foundation for bilateral relations. She expressed hope for the continued development of the partnership between the two sides and the deepening of cooperation in various fields.
Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin welcomed the “Canadian National Security Affairs Visiting Delegation,” which includes former Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada, Marta Morgan, and former National Security Intelligence Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, Jody Thomas. In her speech, she first welcomed the delegation to Taiwan and emphasized that Taiwan and Canada share common national security interests, highlighting the significance of mutual concern for the challenges Taiwan faces in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hsiao Mei-chin thanked the Canadian government for repeatedly stressing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposing unilateral changes to the status quo through force or coercion. She also appreciated Canada’s consistent stance, along with other G7 countries, in expressing the aforementioned position, which holds significant meaning for Taiwan. Furthermore, she thanked Canada for not only issuing statements but also upholding the principles of freedom of navigation and rule-based international order by frequently sending ships through the Taiwan Strait.
Hsiao Mei-chin mentioned that Taiwan and Canada have many shared concerns, with close exchanges in the economic and technological fields. Amid the many global changes taking place, the shifting global trade order poses new challenges for various countries, including Canada. Against this backdrop, many Taiwanese companies are actively promoting global diversification through trade, investment, and commercial activities.
She highlighted that in terms of culture and education, many Taiwanese people live and study in Canada. Canada has become one of the favorite destinations for Taiwanese youth to engage in international exchange, and many bring back their accumulated experiences to Taiwan. Such exchanges lay the foundation for Taiwan-Canada relations, and she expressed hope for the continuous development of the partnership and the deepening of cooperation in various fields.
On the 20th, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, Chen Ming-chi, hosted a luncheon for the visiting delegation, which included former Canadian Prime Minister’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas and former Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada, Marta Morgan, among others. He warmly welcomed the delegation on behalf of the government.
Chen Ming-chi expressed gratitude for Canada’s longstanding firm support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He also commended Canada for its manifest determination to uphold regional peace and security by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait eight times since the release of the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” in 2022.
Additionally, Chen Ming-chi mentioned that Taiwan and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the “Cooperative System for Anti-Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing” in August last year, aiming to combat IUU activities at sea. He expressed hopes for further deepening cooperation on existing foundations to jointly respond to various non-traditional security threats.
Delegation leader Marta Morgan emphasized that Taiwan and Canada share common interests in the Indo-Pacific region and look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the Taiwan Strait situation through this visit. They aim to engage in substantial exchanges with various counterparts to further deepen bilateral cooperation and interaction in various fields.