TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Monday held talks with the visiting European Parliament delegation on Taiwan-EU resilience and countering authoritarianism.

Lin said that although Taiwan and Europe are geographically far apart, they are connected by the shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He thanked the European Parliament for passing a resolution in October condemning China’s misinterpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and its continued military provocations against Taiwan.

Lin said that Taiwan is promoting a resilient and diversified supply chain. As part of those efforts, Taiwan-EU cooperation to build a more resilient and sustainable non-Chinese supply chain is especially vital in today’s complex global environment, he said.

Lin added that cultural diversity is a cornerstone of democratic societies. MOFA and the Ministry of Culture are promoting the “Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe" to showcase Taiwan’s soft power. This includes displaying over 100 National Palace Museum artifacts in the Czech Republic and France. 

MOFA will also coordinate with Taiwan’s European representative offices to boost publicity and help Europeans better understand Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and shared democratic values. 

MEP Reinis Poznaks, a Latvian, said he closely follows the situation in the Taiwan Strait and empathizes with Taiwan due to Latvia’s own experiences facing threats from powerful neighbors. He said that in the face of authoritarian expansion, democracies must unite to defend universal values.

Poznaks praised the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe initiative, noting that culture is a key foundation of identity. He welcomed deeper cultural ties between Taiwan and Europe.

MOFA pointed out that this delegation is the European Parliament’s second visit to Taiwan this year, following one in February. It highlights the parliament’s support and commitment to Taiwan, the ministry said. 

It pledged to continue deepening relations with the European Parliament and building a strong, mutually beneficial alliance to safeguard peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.