A bipartisan delegation from Sweden visited Taiwan and met with Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, on the 28th. The delegation leader, Member of Parliament Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, stated that authoritarian countries like China and Russia pose a threat to global social stability, and democratic countries should join hands to combat authoritarian regimes.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that Minister Joseph Wu met with the “Taiwan-Sweden Parliamentary Association” bipartisan delegation led by MP Lotta Johnsson Fornarve on the afternoon of the 28th. The delegation leader, Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, who previously served as the Deputy Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, was accompanied by committee members John Weinerhall from the Foreign Affairs Committee and Göran Hargestam from the Defense Committee. The two sides had extensive discussions on topics such as democratic partners uniting against authoritarian expansion, combating disinformation, and bilateral economic cooperation.
Minister Joseph Wu expressed gratitude for the friendly gestures of the Swedish government and the parliamentary association members towards Taiwan. He highlighted the significant challenges posed by authoritarian countries in the world today, with China threatening democratic societies in the Indo-Pacific region and globally through hybrid warfare. He emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial for regional security and global supply chain stability. Minister Wu welcomed closer Taiwan-Sweden interactions and hoped for deepened clean energy exchanges between the two countries, while also calling for Sweden’s ongoing support on issues related to Taiwan’s security and Taiwan-Europe economic cooperation.
Delegation leader Lotta Johnsson Fornarve acknowledged the importance of democratic partners unity and cooperation, highlighting the significance of democratic countries joining forces against authoritarian regimes, especially in light of conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in Afghanistan. Member John Weinerhall mentioned that Sweden’s application to join the NATO following the Russia-Ukraine conflict indicates Sweden’s awareness of the threats posed by authoritarian countries like Russia and China to global social stability. Göran Hargestam emphasized the support Taiwan receives from like-minded countries and highlighted Sweden’s role in this support.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Wu Chih-chung, hosted a banquet for the delegation members on the same day. He sincerely thanked the Swedish visitors and urged the Swedish government to pay attention to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. They also exchanged views on combating disinformation, countering Chinese cyber threats, gender equality, and shared Taiwan’s ordeal during the Beijing Olympics under Chinese pressure. Delegation leader Lotta Johnsson Fornarve commended Taiwan’s democratic development and gender-friendly society and expressed the desire for continued mutual learning and collaboration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan stated that this was the first visit to Taiwan for all members of the “Taiwan-Sweden Parliamentary Association.” The ministry looks forward to further deepening bilateral relations between Taiwan and Sweden and working with like-minded partners to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity.
The bipartisan delegation of the “Taiwan-Sweden Parliamentary Association” visited Taiwan from August 26 to September 1, where they also met with Taiwan’s President of the Legislative Yuan, Han Kuo-yu, on the 29th. During his speech, Han Kuo-yu mentioned that in the eyes of the Taiwanese people, Sweden is a beautiful country located in Northern Europe, known for its cleanliness, environmental consciousness, human rights, and democracy.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve mentioned that they were warmly welcomed during their visit to Taiwan and discussed various issues such as national defense, security, and environmental protection with several government departments. Despite the geographical distance between Taiwan and Sweden, they share common values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Vice President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, met with the bipartisan delegation of the “Taiwan-Sweden Parliamentary Association” during their visit. In her remarks, she welcomed the Swedish parliamentary organization’s bipartisan delegation to Taiwan on behalf of President Tsai, the government, and the people of Taiwan. She expressed gratitude for Sweden’s consistent attention to and concern for the partnership between Taiwan and Sweden and their public stance against using force or coercion to change the status quo in regional security situations.
Vice President Lai pointed out, “We all care deeply about maintaining regional peace and stability and protecting the democracy and freedom that we have worked hard to achieve.” She thanked international friends, including Sweden, for “continuously standing with us to defend shared values and interests.” She also thanked the delegation for making the long journey and expressed joy in seeing articles about the delegation’s visit to Taiwan, as they had the opportunity to witness Taiwan’s robust democracy and social resilience firsthand.