Canadian Senator Michael MacDonald last week advocated for Taiwan’s autonomy during a debate at the second reading of a pro-Taiwan bill he sponsored.
MacDonald introduced the Canada–Taiwan Relations Framework Act last year to promote “the strengthening of relations between the people of Canada and the people of Taiwan, including in respect of security cooperation and economic, cultural and legal affairs.”
During the second reading of the bill on Tuesday last week, the Senator delivered a speech in which he advocated for a “clearer and stronger framework” to “better reflect and accommodate the realities of our growing partnership,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Trade Office of Canada in Taipei via CNA
“Taiwan’s existence as a self-made, independent, self-governing and democratic nation has long been self-evident. This is a reality that should be embraced by all democratic countries and freedom-loving people,” he said.
“Taiwan is a free country that should remain free to choose its own future and its own government,” he added.
He commended the US for showing “great leadership in securing the continued independence of Taiwan” and for honoring its security commitment to the nation.
“Taiwan’s sovereignty is well established by any reasonable test under international law,” he said.
Bolstering Canada’s relationship with Taiwan is not only “the right thing to do,” but is supported by Canadians as polling showed, he said.
Taiwan is a mature democracy, a global leader in the semiconductors industry and a regional model for individual rights, he said.
Countries such as the US and the UK have been taking concrete actions to strengthen their ties with Taiwan, including by passing legislation to support closer relations and publishing reports to provide recommendations to their governments, he said.
“Taiwan is being constantly intimidated, but it’s clear that Taiwan is not going away. Their people are courageous, resilient and are determined to choose their own future, but they need and deserve the support of their friends,” MacDonald said.
He said that the bill he proposed is in line with Canada’s “one China” policy, adding that “this bill is by no means a radical document. It does not call for the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state, nor does it alter the status quo in our relations with Beijing.”
Canada and its allies do not agree with Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, he said, adding that Beijing’s refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan should be seen as “unnecessary and unacceptable provocations.”
The proposed bill states Canada’s support for meaningful security and defense cooperation with Taiwan as well as Taiwan’s participation in multilateral international organizations and international trade agreements, he said.
The bill also permits the two representative offices in each other’s countries to use the name “Taiwan,” he added.
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