2023-07-08
Cross-Party Legislators, DPP and IPAC Discuss How Best to Bolster International Support for Taiwan
On the morning of July 7, DPP Legislator Fan Yun, New Power Party Legislator Wang Wan-yu, and DPP Legislator Liu Shyh-fang held discussions with Luke de Pulford, creator and Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, at the Legislative Yuan. The in-depth discussions included topics such as Taiwan’s potential membership in IPAC, promoting parliamentary diplomacy through the alliance, countering Chinese authoritarian expansion, human rights in Hong Kong, and the current geopolitical situation in the Taiwan Strait. The atmosphere of the meeting was convivial.
The event was jointly organized by the offices of Fan Yun, Wang Wan-yu, and Liu Shyh-fang, with assistance from the DPP International Affairs Department. In addition, DPP Deputy Secretary-General Andrea Yang, IPAC External Relations Laura Harth, and IPAC Hong Kong Campaigns and Security Lead Chung Ching Kwong were also in attendance. They discussed how to achieve party consensus in promoting Taiwan’s membership in IPAC, how to promote international exchanges through parliamentary diplomacy, and how to counter China’s authoritarianism expansion through a parliamentary alliance.
As one of the conveners of IPAC in Taiwan, Fan Yun first welcomed Luke de Pulford, expressing hope that the exchange could explore ways to further integrate Taiwan into IPAC. She also looked forward to gaining insights from Luke de Pulford on how to strengthen effective cooperation and exchanges between Taiwanese legislators and parliamentarians around the world. Expressing gratitude for the support shown by IPAC member countries, Fan Yun acknowledged how recent geopolitical events have changed the international community’s perception of both Taiwan and China.
Legislator Wang Wan-yu mentioned that she and Legislator Fan Yun were invited to attend the annual IPAC summit held in Washington, D.C., last year. She recounted the unforgettable experience as an opportunity to exchange views with parliamentarians around the world, underscoring the importance of helping countries understand Taiwan’s issues. Wang Wan-yu reiterated the need for Taiwanese parliamentarians to do more to raise Taiwan’s voice on the global stage, which would enable more foreign friends to become acquainted with and understand Taiwan.
Legislator Liu Shyh-fang pointed out that compared to European countries, Taiwan’s democratic system was still relatively nascent; it has only been about 30 years since the first direct presidential election was held in 1996. Despite Taiwan’s young democracy, it has stood as a model for other democratic governments in Asia. Most Taiwanese people, politicians and political parties understand that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is crucial and represents a consensus opinion in Taiwan. Liu Shyh-fang expressed hope for further opportunities to engage in dialogues and exchanges with other IPAC members, highlighting that Taiwan and IPAC share common values.
Deputy Secretary-General Andrea Yang pointed out that increasing Taiwan’s participation on the international stage was a consensus across party lines. Yet, increasing Taiwan’s international visibility through joining international organizations has always been critical yet challenging tasks. Due to complex historical factors, efforts to make international friends understand the Taiwan issue and gain their support has often faced obstacles. Nevertheless, the DPP bears responsibility and hopes to explore solutions to promote more international exchanges.
Luke de Pulford stated that Taiwan has long been unfairly treated in the world of diplomacy. Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, and its impact on industries and economies are vital to the world and should no longer be overlooked. Taiwan should display more confidence on the international stage, as it deserves fair treatment, reiterating Taiwan’s importance to many countries as a trading partner and as a model of democracy and human rights. There should be increased international cooperation to make all countries fully aware of the importance of safeguarding Taiwan.
