TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Forty-two Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China lawmakers signed a joint statement supporting Taiwan’s right to self-determination.
In the statement released on Tuesday, lawmakers stressed that “any international deliberation regarding Taiwan’s status and future must include Taiwan.” “Excluding a democratic population of 23 million people from discussions that impact their security is wrong and undermines international stability,” they added.
The lawmakers said that Taiwan has upheld its democracy for decades, proving that basic freedoms thrive under a government that prioritizes transparency and representation. They vowed to continue upholding democratic principles and to work with global partners to “ensure its people remain authors of their own destiny.”
IPAC hosted its first-ever gala in Taipei in August, titled “United for Taiwan, A Night to Defend Democracy.” Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) attended the event and thanked IPAC members for standing with Taiwan in defending freedom and peace.
Taiwan’s democracy was hard-won, and Taiwanese know they must “safeguard and defend the achievements that earlier generations fought so hard to secure,” Hsiao said. As a key hub in the global supply chain, Taiwan will continue working with international partners to safeguard the values they all hold dear, she said.
IPAC’s opposition to authoritarian regimes has been a major source of encouragement for Taiwan, helping the nation to progress amid geopolitical uncertainty and severe challenges, the vice president said.
