Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday called for more collaboration between Taiwan and the UK, especially when it comes to countering security threats from foreign forces, during a visit to the British parliament.
Tsai arrived in London earlier in the day and attended a reception hosted by the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), an informal cross-party group in the UK parliament, held in the House of Lords.
In her speech at the reception, Tsai said Taiwan and the UK “have been exchanging our expertise to bolster our defensive arsenals,” likely alluding to the reported British support of Taiwan’s indigenous submarine program through the provision of parts and technology.
Photo from Tsai Ing-wen's X
In the meantime, both sides have actively tackled foreign information manipulation and interference by “anti- democratic forces” seeking to sow discord in democratic societies, said Tsai, who was president from 2016 to last year.
“It is a testing time for democracy around the world,” she said, adding that it was “more important than ever” that Taiwan and the UK strengthen collaboration to confront security threats.
“The health of our democracies depends on our ability to cut off malign influence and ensure that people have access to reliable information environments,” she said at the reception attended by several Lords and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Photo: Screengrab from Sarah Champion's X
Among those attending the reception were former Lord speaker Baroness D’Souza, Lord Rogan and Lord Bethell, as well as MPs Iain Duncan Smith, Sarah Champion and Navendu Mishra, according to information provided by Tsai’s office.
The former president lauded the British parliamentarians for their support of Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which she described as a “vital trade corridor” for the world.
“Taiwan is on the frontline of defending democracy” in the face of “immense pressure” from China, she said, adding that the country would continue to contribute to security in the region and deepen its relationships with other democracies.
Tsai’s current visit to the UK, at the invitation of British politicians, is part of her second European tour since leaving office in May last year.
Over the past week, she also traveled to Lithuania and Denmark.
UK media reported last year that Tsai had originally intended to add the UK to her first European tour when she visited the Czech Republic, France and Belgium in October last year, but Britain’s Foreign Office requested a delay to avoid provoking China ahead of Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s trip to Beijing.
Tsai’s office did not respond directly to media requests for a comment on the report at that time.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
RSS