TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya (苗博雅) said little would change in Gaza if Taiwan ended cooperation with Israel.

Miao spoke to Taiwan News on Wednesday (May 14) as protesters again called on Taiwan’s leaders to end cooperation with Israel. They called for Taiwanese legislators to exit the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association, and to ensure Taiwanese businesses are not drawn into the conflict.

Miao said protesters have appealed to members of the Congressional Association to take a symbolic stand against Israel's actions in Gaza. However, she said she believes withdrawing from the association would do little to bring about change.

Miao also said Taiwan’s national interest must be prioritized in international relations. Taiwan relies on international cooperation to ensure its survival, and ending cooperation with Israel to express opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza will not support this aim, she said.

She added that any decisions to cease cooperation with Israel should be made in consensus with countries that Taiwan cooperates with militarily.

“If Taiwan acts alone it will not help but will create more issues,” Miao said. She said this would also be true if Taiwanese legislators were to withdraw from the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association.

The Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association was established in February to deepen cooperation between the two sides in technology, education, and other industries, and is led by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-bin (鍾佳濱). Chung’s office did not accept Taiwan News’ requests for an interview but provided a statement in April calling for restraint, and for all parties to resolve differences through communication.

Miao is a member of the Social Democratic Party, and ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 legislative elections with DPP backing. She was elected to the Taipei City Council in 2018, and is known for championing LGBTQIA+ rights, opposing the death penalty, and supporting Taiwan independence.

The protest outside the legislature was one of several since Oct. 7 organized by the Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine, a collective of 62 Taiwanese civil society groups. The alliance said Taiwan companies were being drawn into the war, and listed the names of several firms they believe are affected. 

At least one of the firms, Taichung’s Thunder Tiger Corporation, imports parts from an Israeli drone company, according to the firm itself. 

Miao questioned what ending cooperation of this sort would achieve. She said Taiwan is a democracy that has survived under threats from China for decades while also developing its economy and democracy.

“This isn’t something that can be achieved with nice gestures,” she said.

“If we can obtain drone technology from better channels, or if there are better partners with which to form alliances, of course we would be happy to,” Miao said.  

Miao noted Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) has a goal for China's army to invade Taiwan by 2027. “If we stop developing our self-defense and the gap widens, it will give China a big incentive," she said.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry has repeated calls for all parties to continue with ceasefire talks, communication, and mediation throughout the conflict in Gaza. Miao said she supports a ceasefire in Gaza under certain conditions and that is in line with international law.

She expressed regret that disagreements between world powers at the United Nations have prevented the international body from putting an end to the conflict. “Reducing casualties is of course our common hope,” she said.