Taiwan and France should stand together to fight disinformation and ensure freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, as democracies around the world face challenges from China and Russia, French Senator Rachid Temal said in a meeting with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials in Taipei yesterday.
Temal, chairman of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a six-day trip leading a delegation of French senators.
Temal said that his delegation reiterates on behalf of Senate colleagues France’s strong commitment to peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region, backing up recent public statements by French President Emmanuel Macron supporting the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait.
Photo courtesy of the DPP via CNA
The French government’s updated Indo-Pacific Strategy report released in July clearly emphasizes France’s desire for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the “status quo,” a stance that has gained recognition from the EU, he said.
The purpose of the visit is to demonstrate concrete support for Taiwan, he said.
He expressed hope that both sides would boost cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, cultural and educational exchanges, high-tech industry collaboration, combating disinformation, and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.
Photo: CNA
DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) thanked France for supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Hsu asked France to support Taiwan’s bid to join the International Criminal Police Organization so the nation can contribute to global efforts to counter cross-border crime.
The French Parliament’s long-standing support for Taiwan has been a cornerstone of the warming ties between the two countries in the past few years, Hsu said, adding that the Taiwan Friendship Group has played a key role in those developments.
Hopefully more ministerial-level exchanges and reciprocal visits by lawmakers would be arranged, allowing both sides to share practical experiences in countering disinformation and upholding democratic values, he said.
Taiwanese and French companies have also announced cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors and satellites, signaling increasingly close economic and trade ties, he said.
At a separate meeting with Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Temal said that members of all the parties in the French Senate support Taiwan and place great importance on parliamentary diplomacy, viewing Taiwan’s democracy as a model.
Temal invited Han to visit France, saying that he would make a perfect ambassador for Taiwan.
France hopes that Taiwan’s democratic system would endure, he said, adding that the “status quo,” including boundaries, should be maintained.
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