Premier Cho calls for deeper defense ties with Canada

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) thanked Canada on Monday (May 25) for its naval transits through the Taiwan Strait and called for deeper cooperation on artificial intelligence and defense, as the Canadian envoy confirmed Ottawa conducts more strait passages than any country except the United States.

The meeting at the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's cabinet, came as both sides marked the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. Marie Louise Hannan, the Canadian representative, said the relationship has matured into one "strengthened by very strong people-to-people ties."

Cho praised Canada for exercising freedom of navigation rights under international law and for joining multilateral statements supporting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He proposed combining Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing strength with Canada's AI research capabilities to build a shared ecosystem and urged the expedited signing of a Trade Cooperation Framework Agreement.

The premier referenced Canada's first national defense industrial strategy and expressed hope for practical cooperation on defense industries, including drone supply chains.

Hannan disclosed that Taiwan's National Security Council (國家安全會議) will visit Ottawa on June 17 for the fifth consecutive year of security consultations. "And that'll be the 5th time — the 5th year in a row — that we have had security consultations in Canada," she said.

Rapid Response Mechanism Canada is expanding cooperation with Taiwan on countering foreign information manipulation and may provide support around Taiwan's upcoming local elections, Hannan added.

The meeting followed a visit last week by Michael Chong, Canada's Conservative shadow minister for foreign affairs, who met President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on May 20. Chong said his visit was meant to show solidarity with Taiwan and assert Canadian sovereignty after China's ambassador warned lawmakers against traveling to the island.

More than 60,000 Canadians now live in Taiwan, and Canada ranks among the top five destinations for Taiwanese students, Hannan noted. Canada is sending its largest-ever delegation to Computex InnoVEX next week, with more than 30 companies exhibiting.

Taiwan and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding on a dark vessel detection system in August 2025. A workshop on transnational repression under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, co-hosted by Canada and Taiwan's Ministry of Justice, is scheduled for late June. ◼