As chair of the Taiwan European Parliament Amity Association, I must express my deep regret regarding the recent remarks made by the chairman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, which, lacking any historical perspective, have seriously undermined relations between Taiwan and Europe.
When confronting history, what we need is humility, not political opportunism. The statements made by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) in no way represent Taiwan.
Europe is a crucial partner for Taiwan in the pursuit of democracy and human rights, and Germany, in particular, offers valuable lessons for Taiwan in the area of transitional justice. The irresponsible comments from the KMT must not be seen as the voice of Taiwan. I remain committed to promoting friendly exchanges between Taiwan and Europe, on the basis of our shared values.
With the diplomatic crisis created by the KMT, I believe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not remain silent. A strong statement defending Taiwan’s democratic and human rights values, as well as our international reputation, is needed.
Wu Pei-yi is a Democratic Progressive Party legislator and chair of the Taiwan European Parliament Amity Association.
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