The Formosa Club, a cross-party alliance of European legislators established to strengthen ties with Taiwan, held its annual summit in Taipei this week to demonstrate solidarity with the nation.
“We are gathered as a representative of the Formosa Club, an international cross-party platform of legislators that was launched in 2019 to strengthen ties with Taiwan and uphold the shared values of democracy,” Rihards Kols, chair of the Formosa Club annual conference, said at a news conference in Taipei on Monday.
A Latvian politician who was elected a member of the European Parliament last year, Kols said that since its initiation, the Formosa Club has become a major international platform supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in international institutions such as the WHO and Interpol.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
The club also regularly issues statements condemning military provocations in the Taiwan Strait, and standing against disinformation, cyberthreats and economic coercion, he added.
“We recognize Taiwan not only as a partner, but as a trusted democratic ally,” he said.
Taiwan stands on the front line of defending democracy — its prosperity has direct implications “for global security, and for European economic stability, and for the credibility of the international rules-based order,” Kols said.
However, he said that there are “players who are determined to disrupt and change the international order by force.”
It is the world’s democracies’ duty and responsibility to stand united against such aggression, Kols said, calling on democracies to “strengthen the international rules-based order and enhance partnerships among democratic societies here in the Indo-Pacific.”
In welcoming the delegation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said that this year’s gathering was particularly significant, as it marked the first time the Formosa Club’s annual conference had been held in Taipei.
“You [the Formosa Club] have shown that democratic solidarity knows no borders and that friendship rooted in shared values can withstand even the most intense external pressure,” Lin said in his address.
Taiwan would continue to serve as a driving force for global prosperity, as it plays a pivotal role in the global semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries, he said.
“We are dedicated to increasing economic security and building resilient supply chains, in line with our broader vision of ensuring prosperity for our allies,” he added.
“As Europe seeks to diversify its relations and increase its autonomy, Taiwan stands ready as a reliable, trustworthy and innovative partner,” Lin said.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) also expressed gratitude for the Formosa Club’s long-standing support for Taiwan.
She thanked the club for its consistent advocacy for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, as well as for expressing concerns over China’s growing aggression and working tirelessly to strengthen relations between Taiwan and its member countries.
“The presence of Formosa Club members here today sends a clear message: Taiwan is not alone in this mission,” Hsiao said.
The Formosa Club was established in October 2019 through the joint initiative of the chairpersons of Taiwan friendship groups in the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the UK, Germany and France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The club’s annual conference this year, held on Monday and yesterday, was its second annual meeting, following the inaugural conference in Europe on May 24 last year.
A total of 45 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and 18 national parliaments across Europe attended this year’s event, the ministry said.
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