TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) expressed gratitude to France for its legislative efforts to ensure the safety of navigation in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting with a French parliamentary delegation on Wednesday (May 22).
The meeting, which saw the participation of key legislators from various parties, underscored Taiwan's appreciation for France's unique stance in Europe on Taiwan Strait security.
The session included notable figures such as Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chen Yeong-kang (陳永康), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵), and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Mai Yu-zhen (麥玉珍).
Han highlighted the Legislative Yuan and Taiwan's deep appreciation for France's Military Programming Law enacted last year, marking it as the first European nation to legislate the safety of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.
He also thanked French parliamentarians for supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA), mentioning that Deputy Speaker Chiang would lead a cross-party delegation to Switzerland on Friday (May 24) to advocate for Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA.
Han mentioned Taiwan's willingness to share its expertise in health, public health, and epidemic prevention. He hopes that with the support of the French parliamentary celebration delegation, Taiwan's voice will be heard globally in its quest to join the WHA.
Despite internal conflicts within the Legislative Yuan, Han believes that Taiwan's democracy will emerge stronger and more mature through clashes, adjustments, and self-healing.
This meeting not only highlights Taiwan's diplomatic efforts to secure its interests on the international stage but also showcases the island's commitment to contributing to global health initiatives. As Taiwan continues to seek broader international participation, support from countries like France plays a crucial role in amplifying its voice on the world stage.