TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) called for closer cooperation with Europe during a meeting with a European Parliament delegation on Tuesday.
As authoritarianism continues to spread globally, Taiwan understands that strengthening its defense capabilities and societal resilience, and deepening cooperation with like-minded partners, can uphold regional peace and stability, Lai said, per CNA. Taiwan stands on the front line against authoritarian expansion and hybrid threats and is willing to share its experience with the EU and other international partners to protect democratic ways of life, the president said.
Lai thanked the delegation for supporting Taiwan, including passing resolutions that reaffirm opposition to China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758 and to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through coercion or force.
The president said he hoped Taiwan and the EU could establish closer cooperation mechanisms in key strategic industries such as drones, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, as well as form resilient democratic supply chains to ensure the security and autonomy of critical industries.
He stressed that cooperation with democratic countries has never been about confronting any specific party, but about protecting universal values such as democracy and freedom.
The delegation arrived on Monday for a four-day visit and comprises members from the Committee on Security and Defence, according to the foreign ministry. They will meet with top Taiwanese officials and academics to discuss Indo-Pacific regional developments, defense and military equipment, submarine cable security, and whole-of-society defense resilience.
