Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu Seeks French Support to Enhance Taiwan's International Visibility

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, accompanied by Ambassador to France Hao Pei-tsun, visited the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) for discussions. Han requested French support in three key areas to enhance Taiwan's international visibility: urging France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to speak more for Taiwan on the international stage; encouraging more visits from French sectors to Taiwan to deepen bilateral relations; and promoting the establishment of French university branches in Taiwan to leverage existing resources and make Taiwan an important educational hub in the Asia-Pacific region. During the meeting, cross-party legislators exchanged views with IFRI scholars on Taiwan's defense security, energy resilience, and cross-strait relations, emphasizing that safeguarding Taiwan's democracy, strengthening defense capabilities, and maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait are unified goals for the Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation. Han stated that Taiwan faces numerous challenges and threats, and its safety increases with more international friends and attention. He also visited a factory operated by a Taiwanese business in the Paris suburbs to understand their operations and business practices.