Parliamentary diplomacy can help Taiwan pave an alternative path in carving out its role in the international arena and deserves more credit, attention and resources, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said on Monday.
Speaking to dozens of future diplomats in a training class, Wang said this type of diplomacy could help Taiwan develop its “smart power” to gain mutual benefits for Taiwan and other countries.
Wang defined parliamentary diplomacy as the speaker or deputy speaker of the legislature visiting and receiving foreign parliamentarians, attending international meetings and organizations or establishing “Friends of Taiwan” groups to increase Taiwan’s international exposure and visibility.
“The Legislative Yuan is an official branch of the Taiwanese government, but at the same time it also plays a role as a democratic body in representing the people,” Wang said.
“That is why the parliament is not that ‘sensitive’ an institution in the arena of diplomacy, where China has been blocking Taiwan’s ‘‘traditional diplomacy’ for years,” he said.
Taiwan can take advantage of parliamentary diplomacy to develop relations with other countries, especially those that do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Wang said.
The legislature has been very active in developing ties with foreign parliaments, especially in the US, Japan and Europe, he said.
During the current legislature that began in February 2008, the Legislature has received 34 presidential or congressional delegations, 764 foreign delegations and 13,958 foreign parliamentarians.
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