Fri, Aug 11, 2023 page1

• Taiwan hopes to join Baltic COEs: Tsai

  DEMOCRACIES: Three lawmakers from Baltic states are visiting Taiwan to learn more about enhancing cooperation and showing solidarity with Taiwan, an Estonian MP said

  • By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
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  President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday urged three visiting Baltic foreign affairs committee heads to help facilitate Taiwan’s participation in their countries’ NATO Centres of Excellence (COE).

  Tsai made the request at a meeting with Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Estonian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, and his counterparts, Zygimantas Pavilionis of the Lithuanian Seimas and Rihards Kols of the Latvian Saeima, who are on a six-day visit to Taiwan.

  The COEs are international military organizations that train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, information on the alliance’s Web site says.

  

  From left, Rihards Kols, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Saeima; Zygimantas Pavilionis, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas; and Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament, listen as President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  The president expressed hope that the delegation could help Taiwan participate in the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia, the Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Latvia and the Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Lithuania.

  Joining the COEs would deepen cooperation between Taiwan and the Baltic states on national defense, cybersecurity and all-out defense, Tsai said.

  Thanking the Baltic nations for speaking up for Taiwan on many international occasions, including at the World Health Assembly in May, Tsai said that the visit is significant for regional security and bolstering international solidarity among democracies.

  The Baltic nations’ spirit and actions in defending democratic beliefs, as exemplified by their vigorous support of Ukraine, “are truly admirable,” Tsai said.

  The Taiwanese government and society donated nearly US$58 million and more than 700 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and will continue to work with the Baltic states and other countries to assist Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, she said.

  Mihkelson said that the main purpose of the joint visit is to learn more about Taiwan and the “possibilities to enhance cooperation between our democratic societies.”

  The trip is also a “show of solidarity at these turbulent times” against the aggression from neighboring authoritarian regimes, he said.

  Taiwan has been recognized by the international society as a responsible partner for its contributions in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, as well as for building a resilient society against authoritarian pressures, Mihkelson said.

  The delegation, which is to leave Taiwan today, has learned during the trip that “there are numerous possibilities and new avenues we can strengthen cooperation between Baltic nations and Taiwan,” such as digitalization, cybersecurity, trade and economy, and science, he said.

  The Baltic nations’ history of fighting for freedom and democracy against the Soviet Union taught them that “we should never be alone again,” he said, adding that the three countries have all built strong democratic societies and robust partnerships with allies to safeguard their hard-fought freedom.

  Since February last year, the three countries have each spent more than 1 percent of their GDP to help Ukraine as they fight for shared freedom and a rules-based world order, he said.
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