President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, today (6th) met with the “European Parliament Delegation” and emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among democratic nations in the face of the compound challenges posed by authoritarianism. Tsai stated that only through collective effort can freedom, democracy, and the rules-based international order be defended.
In his address, Tsai expressed sincere gratitude for the visit of the delegation to Taiwan on behalf of the Taiwanese government and people. He acknowledged the delegation’s demonstration of high regard and deep friendship towards Taiwan, highlighting the European Parliament’s longstanding support for universal values such as democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.
Tsai mentioned that Chairman Michael Gahler of the European Parliament Friends of Taiwan Group has visited Taiwan for the fifth time, thanking him for being a longstanding friend of Taiwan. He welcomed new members of the delegation, many of whom were visiting Taiwan for the first time, expressing hope that they would bring back Taiwan’s spirit of freedom, diversity, democracy, and warmth to Europe, fostering deeper friendship between Taiwan and Europe.
In recent years, dialogue, cooperation, and exchanges between Taiwan and Europe have seen significant progress in various fields. Initiatives such as the Formosa Club’s annual meeting in Taiwan last year have facilitated discussions on submarine cable security resilience, regional security, and the prospects of Taiwan-Europe cooperation, showcasing the European Parliament and various national parliaments’ strong concern and support for Taiwan.
Moreover, Vice President Lai Ching-te’s speech at the International Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in the European Parliament last November aimed to deepen cooperation with like-minded countries and enhance understanding and support for Taiwan among parliamentarians worldwide.
Tsai expressed gratitude for the European Parliament’s resolutions supporting Taiwan over the years, emphasizing their continuous attention to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as their unwavering support for Taiwan’s international participation, which underscores the message of “virtue does not stand alone, it will have neighbors.”
Facing the long-term military threats, gray zone intrusions, and diplomatic and economic coercion from authoritarianism, Taiwan has a deep understanding of these challenges. Tsai reiterated the importance of unity and cooperation among democratic nations to resist authoritarian expansion, safeguard freedom, democracy, and uphold the rules-based international order, emphasizing that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial not only for Indo-Pacific security but also for global economic prosperity.
Tsai stated that Taiwan is ready to collaborate with the European Parliament and its members to transform their exchanges into concrete actions of building a “democratic supply chain,” injecting greater resilience into the global economy. Taiwan will continue to demonstrate stability and confidence, proving itself an indispensable force for good in the international community. With the support of the delegation, Taiwan looks forward to creating a mutually beneficial and prosperous future with Europe.
In his speech, Chairman Gahler conveyed New Year’s greetings on behalf of the eight European Parliament members from six countries visiting Taiwan, wishing for Taiwan’s prosperity and peace filled with “horsepower” in the Year of the Horse. He expressed gratitude for the invitation to Taiwan, aiming to deepen exchanges to better understand democratic partners in East Asia who share similar values.
Gahler pointed out that the delegation represents the largest party group in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP), with several members who have experienced authoritarian, dictatorial, and communist regimes firsthand, valuing the preciousness of democratic life and freedom. As uncertainties arise amidst rapid global changes, stable democratic nations should collaborate. The delegation supports maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any attempts from across the strait to alter the current situation, with the European Parliament and various governments reiterating the importance of upholding the status quo through political statements.
He further mentioned that the Taiwan Strait is international waters where countries navigate freely, asserting a stance against unilateral changes to the status quo. Gahler strongly condemned the provocative actions displayed by the Chinese Communist Party near Taiwan last week, deeming such provocations unacceptable and severely jeopardizing peace and stability across the strait.
“Taiwan and Europe share common concerns on various issues that require ongoing exchange of experiences,” Gahler noted. The delegation engaged in discussions on relevant topics, including how to address challenges like illegal and unfriendly subsea cable disruptions. Such incidents have been experienced by Taiwan and Europe, especially in the Baltic Sea region. In addition to security issues, there is room for deepened cooperation between Taiwan and Europe in trade, science, health, and other areas. The delegation looks forward to the dialogues and exchanges scheduled for this week and expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s warm invitation.
The delegation members include European Parliament members such as Sven Simon, Wouter Beke, Christophe Gomart, Marion Walsmann, Iuliu Winkler, Michał Szczerba, Jan Farský, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, who visited the Presidential Office to meet with President Tsai, with Presidential Office Secretary-General David Pan also present.