Marie-Noelle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group, yesterday led a delegation to meet with President William Lai (賴清德) in Taipei, pledging solidarity among democratic nations against authoritarian expansion, and backing the right of Taiwanese to determine their future.
In her remarks, Battistel said Taiwan has demonstrated admirable resilience in the face of China’s intensifying pressure.
“The international situation over the past two years has repeatedly proven that when facing diplomatic and economic coercion, disinformation, cyberattacks and military pressure, Taiwan has consistently responded with calmness, dignity and composure,” she said.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan maintains rich and free public discourse, holds regular and transparent elections, and boasts a vibrant civil society and innovative economy, serving as a model for democratic societies, Battistel said.
Taiwan’s resilience warrants admiration from the international community while reminding the world that democracy can never be taken for granted, she added.
In a turbulent world where some authoritarian states attempt to impose their rules and power on others, solidarity among democracies is especially crucial, Battistel said, adding that France and Taiwan should therefore continue to consolidate their robust partnership.
Lai said Taiwan and France are democratic partners that share the values of freedom and human rights.
After he had to postpone his trip to Eswatini last month due to Chinese pressure on neighboring countries, Lai said that Battistel and former friendship group chair Eric Bothorel immediately stepped forward to condemn China’s actions.
The friendship group also issued a statement in support of Taiwan, “ensuring that the voice of justice was heard by the international community,” he added.
Lai thanked France for continuing to take action to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2023, the French Parliament passed a seven-year Military Programming Law that included friendly wording toward Taiwan, making France the first major country to legislate the defense of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
Furthermore, a joint statement last month by French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Lai said, adding that Taiwan would continue to work with France to promote global peace, prosperity and development.
The visiting delegation also include French Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure, along with National Assembly members Christine Pires-Beaune, Virginie Duby-Muller, Cyrille Isaac-Sibille and Mickael Cosson.
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