Canadian Senate Opposition Leader Leo Housakos is visiting Taiwan at the head of a delegation to deepen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation on foreign information manipulation and interference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
During a luncheon with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) on Wednesday, Housakos said that Taiwan and Canada uphold human rights and democracy, and are important partners in several fields, the ministry said in a statement.
The visit is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the latest political, economic and trade developments in Taiwan, as well as promoting closer cooperation in areas such as foreign information manipulation and interference, medical care and indigenous affairs, the ministry quoted Housakos as saying.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Separate statements issued by the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei and Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said that the nine-member delegation arrived in Taipei on Tuesday for a six-day visit and met with Chiang on the first day.
Housakos on social media said that he also met with Chen and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) earlier this week.
Separately, visiting US Senator Jim Banks said during a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) on Wednesday that the legislature should pass a stalled special defense budget to send a signal to China and the world that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength.
According to a video of the meeting provided by Lai’s office, Banks, a Republican who sits on the US Senate Armed Services Committee, told Lai that he was providing leadership in expanding defense spending.
“But your Legislative Yuan has to do its part and pass the special budget, and that’s one message that I want to send to your leadership,” Banks said.
“When you pass the special budget in the legislature, that is a signal to China, and to the rest of the world, that Taiwan is serious about peace through strength,” he said. “I appreciate President Lai’s leadership in making that happen.”
Banks was one of a group of 37 bipartisan US lawmakers who in February wrote to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about the legislature stalling defense spending plans.
Lai told Banks that Taiwan “loved peace,” but only strength could ensure it.
“Taiwan is willing to engage in dialogue, but no engagement can come at the cost of sacrificing democracy, freedom and national interests,” he said.
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