Taiwanese Expatriates in Europe Petition Han Kuo-yu, Urging Cross-Party Support for National Defense
A coalition of Taiwanese expatriate organizations in Europe submitted a petition to Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu during his visit to London, calling for non-partisan support to strengthen national defense. The petition stresses the importance of demonstrating Taiwan's resolve for self-defense to the international community.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 19:52
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Central News Agency, London, 16th - A cross-party delegation of legislators led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu attended the opening ceremony of the European Federation of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce (ETCC) annual meeting in London today. After the event, they were approached by Taiwanese expatriates who presented a petition urging the Legislative Yuan to support the strengthening of national defense, irrespective of party affiliation. Han did not accept the petition himself, asking the expatriates to give it to his secretary.
The petition was initiated on the 9th by Hsueh Ya-shu, president of the European Federation of Taiwanese Associations, and concluded around noon London time on the 15th. A total of 16 Taiwanese expatriate organizations in Europe and 642 individuals responded, with 397 signing their names.
At the ETCC annual meeting today, the petition was ultimately received by DPP legislator Lin Chu-yin and TPP legislator Chiu Hui-ju.
The petition was jointly submitted by Hsueh Ya-shu and Tsai Hui-yu, a UK Overseas Community Affairs Council member and president of the Manchester Taiwanese Association. During a dinner with the Legislative Yuan delegation and the UK expatriate community on the evening of the 13th, Tsai had mentioned in a speech that her mixed-race son would be returning to Taiwan for military service at the end of May, imploring the legislators to work together across party lines to solidify Taiwan's defense.
After receiving the petition, Lin Chu-yin expressed gratitude for the support from overseas Taiwanese business people and expatriates for the special defense budget. She stated that every signature represents the heart of an overseas Taiwanese person protecting Taiwan, and that protecting Taiwan transcends party lines. She particularly noted that the drone budget is crucial for the future development of Taiwan's industry, and the DPP will continue to work in the Legislative Yuan to safeguard Taiwan's security and industrial development.
The petition stated that as long-term residents of Europe, they have personally witnessed how countries work across party lines to enhance their defense resilience to deter authoritarian aggression and preserve free societies. Facing the reality that the People's Republic of China has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, Taiwan has an even greater responsibility to clearly express to the international community its willingness and determination to bear the responsibility of self-defense.
The petition pointed out that national defense is the shared responsibility of all citizens and should not become a tool for short-term political maneuvering. Asymmetric warfare capabilities, the defense industry, and supply chain security are vital to Taiwan's long-term security and democratic resilience. The key factor for the international community in deciding whether to support Taiwan is whether Taiwan is first willing to firmly protect itself.
The petition mentioned that while the recently passed special defense ordinance by the Legislative Yuan is significant to some extent, some key defense capabilities and long-term construction projects were not fully included.
The petition calls on the Legislative Yuan to work together across party lines to support the strengthening of Taiwan's national defense, placing national security above partisan interests. It urges them to supplement key asymmetric defense capabilities and domestic industrial layout in the short term through supplementary budgets, ancillary resolutions, or special legislation, and to continue sending a clear signal of unity, self-defense, and commitment to democracy to the international community.
The petition concludes by emphasizing that as expatriates, they are keenly aware of how the international community views Taiwan's choices. Taiwan's security not only affects its 23 million people but also impacts the confidence and stability of the democratic world.
Han Kuo-yu and the cross-party delegation of legislators began their visit to the UK on the 13th and are scheduled to depart later today.
The petition was initiated on the 9th by Hsueh Ya-shu, president of the European Federation of Taiwanese Associations, and concluded around noon London time on the 15th. A total of 16 Taiwanese expatriate organizations in Europe and 642 individuals responded, with 397 signing their names.
At the ETCC annual meeting today, the petition was ultimately received by DPP legislator Lin Chu-yin and TPP legislator Chiu Hui-ju.
The petition was jointly submitted by Hsueh Ya-shu and Tsai Hui-yu, a UK Overseas Community Affairs Council member and president of the Manchester Taiwanese Association. During a dinner with the Legislative Yuan delegation and the UK expatriate community on the evening of the 13th, Tsai had mentioned in a speech that her mixed-race son would be returning to Taiwan for military service at the end of May, imploring the legislators to work together across party lines to solidify Taiwan's defense.
After receiving the petition, Lin Chu-yin expressed gratitude for the support from overseas Taiwanese business people and expatriates for the special defense budget. She stated that every signature represents the heart of an overseas Taiwanese person protecting Taiwan, and that protecting Taiwan transcends party lines. She particularly noted that the drone budget is crucial for the future development of Taiwan's industry, and the DPP will continue to work in the Legislative Yuan to safeguard Taiwan's security and industrial development.
The petition stated that as long-term residents of Europe, they have personally witnessed how countries work across party lines to enhance their defense resilience to deter authoritarian aggression and preserve free societies. Facing the reality that the People's Republic of China has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, Taiwan has an even greater responsibility to clearly express to the international community its willingness and determination to bear the responsibility of self-defense.
The petition pointed out that national defense is the shared responsibility of all citizens and should not become a tool for short-term political maneuvering. Asymmetric warfare capabilities, the defense industry, and supply chain security are vital to Taiwan's long-term security and democratic resilience. The key factor for the international community in deciding whether to support Taiwan is whether Taiwan is first willing to firmly protect itself.
The petition mentioned that while the recently passed special defense ordinance by the Legislative Yuan is significant to some extent, some key defense capabilities and long-term construction projects were not fully included.
The petition calls on the Legislative Yuan to work together across party lines to support the strengthening of Taiwan's national defense, placing national security above partisan interests. It urges them to supplement key asymmetric defense capabilities and domestic industrial layout in the short term through supplementary budgets, ancillary resolutions, or special legislation, and to continue sending a clear signal of unity, self-defense, and commitment to democracy to the international community.
The petition concludes by emphasizing that as expatriates, they are keenly aware of how the international community views Taiwan's choices. Taiwan's security not only affects its 23 million people but also impacts the confidence and stability of the democratic world.
Han Kuo-yu and the cross-party delegation of legislators began their visit to the UK on the 13th and are scheduled to depart later today.