President Lai Thanks Canadian Parliament for Support, Hopes to Deepen Cooperation to Counter Authoritarian Expansion
On the 20th in Taipei, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te met with Canadian Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michael Chong. President Lai thanked the Canadian Parliament for its long-term support for Taiwan's international participation and paid respect to Chong for his insistence on defending democracy despite being sanctioned by China for condemning the genocide against Uyghurs. Both sides hope to deepen cooperation, combining Taiwan's semiconductors with Canada's AI technology to jointly resist authoritarian expansion. Chong reiterated Canada's cross-party support for Taiwan, stated that the travel of Canadian MPs should not be dictated by foreign governments, and stressed that cross-strait issues should be resolved through non-coercive dialogue.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 21:16
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President Lai Ching-te, meeting with Canadian Member of Parliament Michael Chong today, expressed his respect for Chong's persistent defense of democracy and human rights. He noted that Chong was a victim of transnational repression, having been sanctioned by China for condemning the genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. President Lai also thanked the Canadian Parliament for its long-term support of Taiwan's international participation and expressed hope for continuously deepening Taiwan-Canada cooperation to jointly resist authoritarian expansion.
According to a press release from the Presidential Office, the President welcomed Chong's return visit to Taiwan during a meeting this afternoon with the "Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Conservative Party of Canada, Michael Chong," stating that he had a very deep impression of their meeting three years ago.
The President said that at that time, Chong brought a precious gift to Taiwan: the "Report on Canada-Taiwan Relations" passed by the Canadian House of Commons. The report emphasizes that Canada's "One China Policy" is completely different from China's "one-China principle" and asserts that "the future of Taiwan can only be decided by the people of Taiwan."
President Lai stated that Chong had once promoted a motion in Parliament condemning the Chinese government's genocide against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, which led to sanctions from the Chinese government, making him a victim of transnational repression and foreign interference. He expressed his highest respect for Chong's long-standing courage in the face of authoritarianism and his insistence on defending the values of democracy and human rights.
The President also thanked Chong for his strong support for Taiwan, which has made Taiwan-Canada relations increasingly close over the past three years. He particularly thanked the Canadian Parliament for unanimously passing a motion this year to support Taiwan's international participation and to counter China's distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758.
The President pointed out that last year, members of both the ruling and opposition parties in Canada made special statements in Parliament and held an international press conference with a Taiwanese action group, emphasizing that Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) could make a significant contribution to global aviation safety. Furthermore, over the past three years, Taiwan and Canada have signed multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding to promote mutual investment, technological innovation, health cooperation, and joint efforts against illegal maritime activities, all of which have laid a deeper foundation for bilateral exchange and cooperation.
President Lai stated that the economic and industrial structures of Taiwan and Canada are complementary. He looks forward to combining Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing with Canada's innovative AI technology advantages to continuously institutionalize bilateral trade and tech cooperation, creating mutually beneficial business opportunities for the people of both countries. He also expressed hope that Canada would support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to jointly contribute to regional prosperity and development.
The President thanked Chong for taking time from his busy schedule to come to Taiwan despite external pressure, expressing firm support for Taiwan and demonstrating the joint determination of Taiwan and Canada to convey to the world that the democratic camp is working together to resist authoritarian expansion.
The President emphasized that the more united democratic partners are, the more resilient world democracy becomes, and he looks forward to continuing to work together to create a more democratic and prosperous future.
In his speech, Michael Chong congratulated President Lai on his second anniversary in office. He said that in Canada, support for Taiwan is a cross-party consensus. He had two purposes for this trip: first, to show solidarity and support for Taiwan. Taiwan, like Ukraine, is a democracy on the front line of threats from authoritarian states. Second, to defend Canada's sovereignty.
He stated that China's ambassador to Canada recently said that Canadian MPs should no longer visit Taiwan, yet this has always been a common practice for MPs from both governing and opposition parties. He said he was in Taipei today to make it clear: the international visits of Canadian MPs will not be dictated by foreign governments.
Chong said that solidarity with Taiwan is a long-standing Canadian position, which is that any discussion of cross-strait issues must be conducted through dialogue and discussion by both sides, voluntarily and without coercion, not through threats and violence. Canada also supports Taiwan's participation in international forums and activities around the world, and has therefore long called for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the ICAO, among others.
He mentioned that international organizations should not be weaponized by Beijing, and that Canada itself has experienced the effects of the abuse of these organizations, such as INTERPOL. Therefore, vigilance is always required to ensure these international venues and organizations are not used against free societies and democracies. Furthermore, to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, Canada and Taiwan should continue what they have been doing for decades: dialogue, mutual visits, and deepening and expanding bilateral relations.
According to a press release from the Presidential Office, the President welcomed Chong's return visit to Taiwan during a meeting this afternoon with the "Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Conservative Party of Canada, Michael Chong," stating that he had a very deep impression of their meeting three years ago.
The President said that at that time, Chong brought a precious gift to Taiwan: the "Report on Canada-Taiwan Relations" passed by the Canadian House of Commons. The report emphasizes that Canada's "One China Policy" is completely different from China's "one-China principle" and asserts that "the future of Taiwan can only be decided by the people of Taiwan."
President Lai stated that Chong had once promoted a motion in Parliament condemning the Chinese government's genocide against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, which led to sanctions from the Chinese government, making him a victim of transnational repression and foreign interference. He expressed his highest respect for Chong's long-standing courage in the face of authoritarianism and his insistence on defending the values of democracy and human rights.
The President also thanked Chong for his strong support for Taiwan, which has made Taiwan-Canada relations increasingly close over the past three years. He particularly thanked the Canadian Parliament for unanimously passing a motion this year to support Taiwan's international participation and to counter China's distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758.
The President pointed out that last year, members of both the ruling and opposition parties in Canada made special statements in Parliament and held an international press conference with a Taiwanese action group, emphasizing that Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) could make a significant contribution to global aviation safety. Furthermore, over the past three years, Taiwan and Canada have signed multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding to promote mutual investment, technological innovation, health cooperation, and joint efforts against illegal maritime activities, all of which have laid a deeper foundation for bilateral exchange and cooperation.
President Lai stated that the economic and industrial structures of Taiwan and Canada are complementary. He looks forward to combining Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing with Canada's innovative AI technology advantages to continuously institutionalize bilateral trade and tech cooperation, creating mutually beneficial business opportunities for the people of both countries. He also expressed hope that Canada would support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to jointly contribute to regional prosperity and development.
The President thanked Chong for taking time from his busy schedule to come to Taiwan despite external pressure, expressing firm support for Taiwan and demonstrating the joint determination of Taiwan and Canada to convey to the world that the democratic camp is working together to resist authoritarian expansion.
The President emphasized that the more united democratic partners are, the more resilient world democracy becomes, and he looks forward to continuing to work together to create a more democratic and prosperous future.
In his speech, Michael Chong congratulated President Lai on his second anniversary in office. He said that in Canada, support for Taiwan is a cross-party consensus. He had two purposes for this trip: first, to show solidarity and support for Taiwan. Taiwan, like Ukraine, is a democracy on the front line of threats from authoritarian states. Second, to defend Canada's sovereignty.
He stated that China's ambassador to Canada recently said that Canadian MPs should no longer visit Taiwan, yet this has always been a common practice for MPs from both governing and opposition parties. He said he was in Taipei today to make it clear: the international visits of Canadian MPs will not be dictated by foreign governments.
Chong said that solidarity with Taiwan is a long-standing Canadian position, which is that any discussion of cross-strait issues must be conducted through dialogue and discussion by both sides, voluntarily and without coercion, not through threats and violence. Canada also supports Taiwan's participation in international forums and activities around the world, and has therefore long called for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the ICAO, among others.
He mentioned that international organizations should not be weaponized by Beijing, and that Canada itself has experienced the effects of the abuse of these organizations, such as INTERPOL. Therefore, vigilance is always required to ensure these international venues and organizations are not used against free societies and democracies. Furthermore, to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, Canada and Taiwan should continue what they have been doing for decades: dialogue, mutual visits, and deepening and expanding bilateral relations.