Vice President Annette Lu received the chairperson of Taiwan-friendly group in the Italian parliament Gian Paolo Landi di Chiavenna with open arms.
Lu first thanked Landi for her warm reception when she went to Rome a few years ago and said that the Taiwan-friendly group in Parlamento had gradually gained influence under Landi's leadership. His efforts have been beneficial to the Taiwan-Italy relationship, particularly with Taiwan's efforts to join the World Health Organization and in its opposition to lifting the ban on weapons sale to China. The group is united in its stance on such issues and this most certainly has an influence on government policy and for this, Lu said she has been very grateful.
Lu expounded on her Democratic Pacific Alliance and spoke of its core values, saying that the Democratic Pacific Alliance is based on principles of democracy, peace and prosperity. She said that after three years of planning the alliance, which was officially established last August, it has integrated a ring of 28 democratic Pacific Ocean nations. As the president of the organization for two years, she said that she has pioneered numerous cases, including making contact with numerous outstanding legislators, establishing the Pacific Women's Center and establishing a Pacific Disaster Center. It is her hope that the establishment of the international Democratic Pacific Alliance will bring the power of these nations together to further regional peace, democracy and prosperity.
The vice president said that she believes that China's expansion of its military might is not only directed at Taiwan, but is also aimed at the dominance over the Pacific Ocean. The so-called "rise of China" wears a mask of peace, but is really aimed at realization of China's ambitious schemes. Taiwan has been able to withstand communist China for a long time, foiling the spread of Communism in the Asia-Pacific. If the European Union should ever lift the ban on weapons sale to China, a great threat to the entire world order will become readily apparent. She earnestly expressed her hope to the guests that they could have a deeper understanding of this and that they would have an influence on the other member nations of Europe not to lift the ban on sale of weapons to the PRC.