Several lawmakers held a ceremony in the Legislative Yuan on Friday to mark the inauguration of six parliamentary friendship groups to promote closer exchanges with European countries.
The aim of setting up the groups is to help boost Taiwan’s international participation, lawmakers said.
The groups include the Taiwanese parliamentary group working on WTO diplomacy, the Taiwan-
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Association, the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Taiwan-Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Association.
The Dutch parliament and the Belgian parliament’s Chamber of Representatives have passed resolutions in support of Taiwan in recent years, while Luxembourg has also voiced support for Taiwan participating in the WHO, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) said.
In addition, Switzerland’s lower house passed a resolution in May last year to “strengthen cooperation with the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan,” demonstrating the support of European countries for Taiwan’s international participation and cooperation, Lin said.
Taiwan not only has to seek out economic opportunities, but also strengthen democracy and human rights to boost ties with democratic countries worldwide, Lin said.
Meanwhile, DPP legislator Fan Yun (范雲), who chairs the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, pledged to strengthen international connections and build an alliance against China based on human rights.
She said she also established the Taiwan-Europe Social Democratic and Anti-Authoritarian Countries Parliamentary Friendship Network.
DPP Legislator Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸), who was re-elected chairman of the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group, highlighted the shared values of democracy and freedom between the two countries.
German Institute Taipei Director-General Jorg Polster welcomed the establishment of parliamentary friendship associations, saying that he was looking forward to accompanying a German parliamentary delegation at this year’s presidential inauguration ceremony in Taiwan.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS