President Lai Hopes to Deepen Strategic Partnership with France; French Delegation Supports Taiwan's International Participation
President Lai Ching-te met with a French National Assembly delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, calling for a stronger strategic partnership. Battistel emphasized the unity of democratic nations and support for Taiwan's international participation.
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- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 14:40
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, 28th) President Lai Ching-te met today with a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, Chair of the France-Taiwan Friendship Group in the French National Assembly. He expressed gratitude for France's continued actions to support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and expressed his hope to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership. Battistel emphasized that in the face of authoritarian expansion and challenges to international law, democratic nations must unite and cooperate, and France will continue to support Taiwan's international participation and the rights of its people to self-determination.
President Lai, accompanied by Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, welcomed Battistel, who visited again following her trip last June. He praised the enduring friendship between Taiwan and France and thanked France for its actions in defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing that Taiwan and France will work together to promote world peace and prosperity.
The President stated that Taiwan and France are democratic partners sharing values of freedom and human rights. He thanked Battistel for standing up immediately last month when China pressured a third country to cancel flight permits, forcing a temporary postponement of his visit to Eswatini. The France-Taiwan Friendship Group issued a statement supporting Taiwan, ensuring the voice of justice was heard by the international community.
The President specifically thanked France for its actions in defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, noting that in 2023, both houses of the French Parliament passed the "Military Programming Law," which included pro-Taiwan language, making France the first major country in the world to defend freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait through legislation.
He mentioned that France is Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner in Europe and its primary partner in scientific research cooperation. In April this year, the 2nd Taiwan-France Scientific Research Conference was held in France, covering semiconductors, quantum, biomedicine, green energy, AI, cybersecurity, space, and oceanography, aiming to build a resilient and strategic technological cooperation network.
Battistel stated that the regular exchanges between Taiwan and France testify to the resilience of their relationship and highlight Taiwan's importance as a key partner for France in the Indo-Pacific. She believes that in the current international situation, full of tension and crises, core values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law must be firmly defended, and democratic nations must engage in dialogue and close cooperation.
She pointed out that in this turbulent world, it is crucial for democratic nations to remain united when certain authoritarian states impose their rules and power. Therefore, it is necessary to continue deepening the friendship between Taiwan and France, including political and parliamentary dialogue.
She emphasized that she will continue to support Taiwan's international recognition and the right of the Taiwanese people to self-determination, as the ties connecting the two peoples transcend mere strategic or economic interests, rooted in shared beliefs in freedom, democracy, and international law.
President Lai, accompanied by Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, welcomed Battistel, who visited again following her trip last June. He praised the enduring friendship between Taiwan and France and thanked France for its actions in defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing that Taiwan and France will work together to promote world peace and prosperity.
The President stated that Taiwan and France are democratic partners sharing values of freedom and human rights. He thanked Battistel for standing up immediately last month when China pressured a third country to cancel flight permits, forcing a temporary postponement of his visit to Eswatini. The France-Taiwan Friendship Group issued a statement supporting Taiwan, ensuring the voice of justice was heard by the international community.
The President specifically thanked France for its actions in defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, noting that in 2023, both houses of the French Parliament passed the "Military Programming Law," which included pro-Taiwan language, making France the first major country in the world to defend freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait through legislation.
He mentioned that France is Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner in Europe and its primary partner in scientific research cooperation. In April this year, the 2nd Taiwan-France Scientific Research Conference was held in France, covering semiconductors, quantum, biomedicine, green energy, AI, cybersecurity, space, and oceanography, aiming to build a resilient and strategic technological cooperation network.
Battistel stated that the regular exchanges between Taiwan and France testify to the resilience of their relationship and highlight Taiwan's importance as a key partner for France in the Indo-Pacific. She believes that in the current international situation, full of tension and crises, core values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law must be firmly defended, and democratic nations must engage in dialogue and close cooperation.
She pointed out that in this turbulent world, it is crucial for democratic nations to remain united when certain authoritarian states impose their rules and power. Therefore, it is necessary to continue deepening the friendship between Taiwan and France, including political and parliamentary dialogue.
She emphasized that she will continue to support Taiwan's international recognition and the right of the Taiwanese people to self-determination, as the ties connecting the two peoples transcend mere strategic or economic interests, rooted in shared beliefs in freedom, democracy, and international law.
FAQ
What are examples of French support for Taiwan?
Including pro-Taiwan language in the 2023 Military Programming Law and hosting joint scientific research conferences.