Tue, Apr 25, 2023 page1

• Paris likely to help defend Taiwan

  FIVE-DAY VISIT: The legislative speaker presented Alain Richard with the Legislative Yuan First-Class Medal of Honor for his ‘contribution in bolstering ties’

  • By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
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  There is a big chance France would act with the US and cooperate in moves in support of Taiwan if China were to invade, French Senate Vice President Alain Richard said ahead of his visit to Taiwan yesterday.

  Richard made the comment on France Info radio, while reiterating that France opposes any unilateral attempts to change the stability across the Taiwan Strait.

  A delegation led by Richard, which comprises French senators Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp, Valerie Boyer and Brigitte Devesa along with the executive secretary of the friendship group, Philippe Pejo, arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit.

  

  French Senate Vice President Alain Richard, left, and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun shake hands after the latter presented Richard with the Legislative Yuan First-Class Medal of Honor at the legislature in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

  The visit came after a delegation from the French National Assembly led by Eric Bothorel visited last week, which sends an important message to the international community that “Taiwan and France are both members of the democratic camp and would safeguard their shared values,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

  Legislative Speaker You Si-kun yesterday presented Richard with the Legislative Yuan First-Class Medal of Honor for “his contribution in bolstering ties between France and Taiwan,” the legislature said.

  He is dedicated to spreading the values of freedom, equality and peace, as well as safeguarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law, it added.

  France has been supporting Taiwan since he was French minister of defense from 1997 to 2002, and cross-party support for the nation in the French parliament has been growing stronger, Richard said.

  Taiwan’s fight for democracy is admirable and an “example for the world,” he said.

  France condemned China for conducting military drills around Taiwan, calling them “dangerous, invasive and irresponsible,” he told reporters at the legislature.

  France retains its traditional stance — it opposes all acts of violence that attempt to change the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

  The France and Taiwan friendship groups of both sides have been maintaining relations of mutual aid, he said, adding that Taiwanese lawmakers are welcome to visit France to further strengthen the bonds.

  The delegation is also to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) during their visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

  Richard is a heavyweight politician and “an old friend of Taiwan,” uniting cross-party lawmakers in the French Senate to pass a resolution supporting Taiwan to join international organizations in May 2021, the first pro-Taiwan resolution passed in the French Senate, it said.

  Richard received the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon from Tsai during his previous visit in October 2021 for his continual efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, the ministry said.

  Separately, a delegation comprising 11 Latin American lawmakers of the Formosa Club arrived in Taiwan yesterday for the club’s first visit to the nation, the ministry said.

  The delegation, which consists of lawmakers from Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, is to meet with Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and You during their visit, it said.

  To gain an in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s achievements in healthcare, the lawmakers are to visit the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Health Insurance Administration and Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, the foreign ministry said.

  The Formosa Club, which was established by legislators in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019, has been helping raise Taiwan’s international visibility by sending joint letters, passing resolutions and issuing statements, it said.
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