Premier Su Tseng-chang on Thursday welcomed a delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). The premier said that China's launch of persistent military exercises that encircled Taiwan in August threaten the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. In September, IPAC held a summit in Washington, D.C. during which a communique was adopted emphasizing the importance of defending the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and committing to push for inter-parliamentary visits between Taiwan and legislatures from the IPAC network. On October 14, IPAC issued a statement calling once again on the EU and European nations to support Taiwan's development through bilateral and multilateral trade and investment deals. Premier Su expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the government and the Taiwanese people for IPAC's efforts.
The premier said that IPAC, with its global grouping of cross-party legislators, represents a wide breadth of public opinion and noted that the delegation is made up of legislators from seven nations. Since its founding, IPAC has continuously strived through various avenues to support ideals such as human rights and democracy, and has expressed great concern over China's oppression of human rights in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. Individual members of IPAC have also advocated for these issues in their own countries, assembling a united effort to resist China's threats. The premier hopes everyone will continue to promote universal values such as democracy, freedom and human rights, achieving greater strength in unity and cooperating to stand against authoritarian countries' use of force to disrupt regional peace.
Avdullah Hoti, Member of Parliament of Kosovo, represented the delegation and said in his remarks that IPAC is gradually building into an incredible organization composed of legislators from many countries. MP Hoti said IPAC had a very fruitful discussion during its D.C. summit this September, and it is now very clear to members what they have to do for Taiwan. The delegation's visit should be seen as demonstrating support and solidarity with Taiwan, MP Hoti said, and once the delegates return to their home countries, they will each inform their parliaments and governments about Taiwan's situation and the actions that should be taken to support Taiwan.