A French parliamentary delegation visiting Taiwan has commended the country’s flourishing democracy and growing economy. French Senator Joël Guerriau says Taiwan’s booming growth in exports during the pandemic is the envy of many countries worldwide.
Guerriau also reiterated France’s commitment to Taiwan’s sovereignty and condemned China for stopping Taiwan from attending the World Health Assembly. Taiwan was an observer at the assembly from 2009 until 2016, the year President Tsai Ing-wen came to power. Since then, Beijing has objected to Taiwan taking part.
Taiwan’s Legislative Speaker You Si-kun received the French delegation at the legislature on Friday. He thanked France for deepening ties with Taiwan and affirming commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. You also set out his aspirations for democracy and freedom for “all Chinese people” and implored democratic countries around the world to “stand up to authoritarian regimes.”