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2022-10-24
中文
President Tsai meets German parliamentary human rights committee delegation   

On the morning of October 24, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation from the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag (national parliament). In remarks, President Tsai thanked Germany for supporting Taiwan on the international stage, and stated that, although we are not a member of the United Nations, Taiwan has nevertheless taken the initiative to set up a national human rights report review system, and has established the National Human Rights Commission as an independent human rights agency in line with the UN's Paris Principles. Noting that the commission is facilitating the adoption of human rights concepts in Taiwan and moving Taiwan toward the ideal of a nation founded on human rights, the president expressed hope that the members of the delegation will share with the global community Taiwan's efforts to align with international human rights standards and the great importance we attach to democracy, freedom, and human rights.

A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:

I want to first welcome Member of the German Bundestag Peter Heidt and his delegation to Taiwan. The delegation includes members of parliament from across party lines, which is very significant and demonstrates the strong support for Taiwan in the Bundestag. I extend a sincere welcome to each of you.

Taiwan and Germany enjoy a strong cooperative relationship in many important fields. Trade between Taiwan and Germany surpassed US$20 billion last year, setting an all-time high. Over the past six years, Taiwan and Germany have signed a number of cooperation agreements covering areas such as science and technology, energy transition, financial oversight, and transitional justice, which have yielded outstanding results. Moreover, Taiwan and Germany are important partners who share a commitment to democracy and freedom. I want to take this opportunity to thank Germany for its firm support for Taiwan on the international stage.

Germany hosted this year's G7 summit, and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait through the G7 foreign ministers' joint communiqué. In addition, earlier this year, the Bundestag for the first time passed a resolution supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, and German Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach clearly expressed support for Taiwan's international participation at the WHA itself. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I offer our deepest gratitude to Germany for its firm support for our country.

Both Taiwan and Germany resolutely support human rights, and have done important work in this field. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, we have nevertheless taken the initiative to set up a national human rights report review system, and have invited international human rights experts to Taiwan to help set up a platform for international dialogue on human rights. We have issued three national human rights reports to date, and have incorporated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) into domestic law, further strengthening the implementation of these two covenants in Taiwan.

In 2020 we set up the National Human Rights Commission as an independent human rights agency in line with the UN's Paris Principles. The commission is facilitating the adoption of human rights concepts in Taiwan and moving Taiwan toward the ideal of a nation founded on human rights.

During your stay, you will meet with people from a range of NGOs working on human rights issues. I wish you all a smooth visit, and hope you will share with the global community Taiwan's efforts to align with international human rights standards and the great importance we attach to democracy, freedom, and human rights.

In his remarks, Member of the German Bundestag Heidt first thanked President Tsai for taking time to meet and exchange views with the delegation. He said he was very pleased that countries around the world are slowly easing border restrictions in the wake of the global pandemic, giving his delegation the opportunity to come to Taiwan, and expressed hope that the visit will deepen and advance ties between Germany and Taiwan.

Stating that he and his fellow delegation members stand with the people of Taiwan and wish them well, Mr. Heidt observed that Germany and Taiwan have long enjoyed amicable ties, and have similar histories in some respects. He noted that Germany experienced a peaceful revolution in 1989 that moved it toward freedom and democracy, while Taiwan developed its own democracy soon after the lifting of martial law in 1987.

Mr. Heidt said that the Bundestag's Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid has assisted with the handling of a number of crises around the world in the past half year, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and drought in East Africa. Adding that systemic competition has been another focus of attention during the current Bundestag, he stated that human rights are an indispensable part of the international order, and that from this perspective, the delegation's visit to Taiwan was a matter of course.

Mr. Heidt said that his delegation understands the complexity of the situation that Taiwan faces vis-à-vis its powerful neighbor China. He noted that the delegation members have noticed the threats against Taiwan raised by China's President Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party as well as China's reaction to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, and that they are also aware of the effect China has had on Hong Kong.

Expressing his belief that Taiwan stands on the frontlines of systemic competition, facing actual military threats as well as verbal intimidation, Mr. Heidt said that, from Germany's perspective, any change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait would have to occur through peaceful means and require unanimity on both sides.

Mr. Heidt said his delegation hopes to understand how Taiwan defends itself against Chinese threats and infiltration, and what kind of role human rights play in these circumstances.

Mentioning that the freedom of Taiwan's press has made a very deep impression on his delegation, Mr. Heidt said they understand that if certain restrictions still apply to freedom of the press in Taiwan, it is for self-protection from constant attempts by China to interfere.

Mr. Heidt said he is aware that Taiwan still sentences people to capital punishment under certain circumstances. He stated that as a Christian, a lawyer, and an advocate for human rights, he feels the death penalty is a very inhumane punishment, not just to those who receive it, but also to the judges who issue the sentences and the officials who carry them out.

In closing, Mr. Heidt reiterated that Germany and Taiwan enjoy an excellent friendship and maintain close cooperation in many different fields, including economic affairs, law, science, and culture. He expressed hope for deepening exchanges in trade and science, and called for stronger political ties.

President Tsai Ing-wen meets with a German parliamentary human rights committee delegation.
President Tsai delivers remarks.
The president meets with a German parliamentary human rights committee delegation.
President Tsai poses for a photo with a German parliamentary human rights committee delegation.
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From 2010 to last year, Taiwanese investment in China fell from 83.8 percent to 7 percent of total outbound investment. Our investment targets have now shifted to Japan, the United States, and Europe. Next is to strengthen cooperation with other countries, so as to uphold the spirit of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. Shoulder to shoulder, we will demonstrate the strength of deterrence and achieve peace through strength. Lastly, Taiwan is willing, on the condition of parity and dignity, to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China to promote peace and mutual prosperity across the strait. Second, we will boost all manner of cooperation with our diplomatic allies. Last year, I visited our allies Tuvalu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. I was grateful for the warm welcome of the heads of state and legislatures of these three nations, and also witnessed Taiwan’s close collaboration with our allies in regard to climate change. 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中文
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President Lai meets delegation from Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China
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中文
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President Lai meets study delegation from Japan’s LDP Youth Division
On the afternoon of August 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a study delegation from the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). In remarks, President Lai stated that Japan and Taiwan have deep ties of friendship, and that the two nations share a strong belief in the values of democracy and freedom. With global circumstances rapidly changing, the president expressed hope to continue enhancing cooperation, not only to stabilize the regional situation, but also to boost the resilience of both countries’ economies and bring about win-win outcomes for the economies and industries of both Taiwan and Japan. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to first extend a warm welcome to our good friends in the LDP Youth Division, who are once again visiting Taiwan. This past May, I met with Japanese House of Representatives Members Nakasone Yasutaka, Hiranuma Shojiro, and Katou Ryusho, as well as House of Councillors Member Kamiya Masayuki at the Presidential Office, and I am happy that LDP Youth Division Central Standing Committee Chair Suda Akira has also joined the delegation to exchange views on various topics today. I want to thank the LDP Youth Division for the many years it has played a key role in Taiwan-Japan exchanges and spurred deeper bilateral understanding and cooperation. Japan and Taiwan have deep ties of friendship. Whenever Taiwan has faced difficulties, Japan has always lent a helping hand and offered warmth. After a major earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3 last year, the LDP Youth Division raised donations to support reconstruction. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and many members of the Japanese Diet also expressed condolences when Taiwan was hit by typhoons and torrential rains these last two months. 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中文
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中文
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中文
2025-08-01
President Lai delivers remarks on US reciprocal tariff policy response
On the morning of August 1, President Lai Ching-te delivered remarks at the Presidential Office on the response to the reciprocal tariff policy of the United States. President Lai explained that technical consultations with the US are finished, but as the final concluding meeting has not yet taken place, 20 percent has been set for Taiwan as an interim tariff rate. The president said that Taiwan will work towards a more favorable and reasonable rate in the subsequent negotiations, and that the US has expressed its willingness to continue talks. He added that a support plan for Taiwan’s export supply chain in response to US tariffs has been proposed to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in responding to the US tariff policy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Earlier today, the US government informed our lead negotiator, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), that an interim tariff rate for Taiwan has been set at 20 percent. Since April 2, when the US introduced its new tariff policy targeting countries worldwide, Taiwan has actively engaged in four in-person rounds of negotiation and multiple discussions over videoconference with the US government. Throughout the process, both sides have negotiated in good faith based on the shared goal of addressing the trade deficit between Taiwan and the US and creating complementary and mutually beneficial outcomes. Although we have achieved an interim reduction in the tariff rate from 32 percent to 20 percent at this point in the negotiations, 20 percent was never our goal. We hope to work towards a more favorable and reasonable rate for Taiwan in the subsequent negotiations, and the US has expressed its willingness to continue talks. We have finished technical consultations, but as the final concluding meeting has not yet taken place, a final tariff rate has not yet been reached. This is the reason for the setting of an interim tariff rate. I extend my sincere gratitude to Vice Premier Cheng and Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) for working tirelessly over the past few months leading the negotiation team, remaining on call whether in Taiwan or the US. From here in Taiwan I, along with Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), and Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安), have also provided full support to our negotiating team in the US. Regardless of the final tariff rate, Taiwan’s industries will inevitably be impacted. I am deeply grateful to Premier Cho for proposing on April 4 a support plan for Taiwan’s export supply chain in response to US tariffs, and for holding over 20 industry consultation sessions. The special budget has also been increased from NT$88 billion to NT$93 billion. This special act has already been submitted to the Legislative Yuan and passed review. I hope that the Executive Yuan will promptly submit the budget request for legislative review so that the special budget can be implemented as soon as possible to assist SMEs in responding to this new US tariff policy.
中文