Canadian MP Michael Chong Visits Taiwan Despite Chinese Threats, to Meet President Lai and Demonstrate Democratic Solidarity

(CNA, Taipei, May 18, by reporter Yang Yao-ju) Following the departure of two Canadian ruling Liberal Party MPs from Taiwan in January on the advice of the Canadian government, Canadian Conservative MP and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michael Chong, arrived in Taiwan today. He revealed on social media that he will meet with President Lai Ching-te during this trip, emphasizing that the visit is to demonstrate democratic solidarity and to assert Canadian sovereignty, unafraid of Chinese threats. Michael Chong issued a statement on the 17th, announcing his visit to Taiwan from the 18th to the 21st, during which he will meet with President Lai, visit Chief Negotiator Jenny Yang of the Office of Trade Negotiations, Executive Yuan, and Political Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Chun Lee. He will also meet with personnel from the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. Chong said that Canada and Taiwan have important economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. In 2024, Taiwan is already one of Canada's top 15 and Asia's top 6 trading partners, and visits by Canadian parliamentarians to Taiwan have a history spanning decades. This visit has two purposes: first, to show democratic solidarity in the face of Chinese threats; second, to assert Canadian sovereignty, as the Chinese Ambassador to Canada had warned against the trip. Chong stated that Canada is a sovereign and independent country and does not accept instructions from other governments on where Canadian parliamentarians should go for international visits, or in which international waters the Royal Canadian Navy can sail. Chong pointed out that remaining silent and subservient in the face of threats is to acquiesce to such behavior, and even fuels authoritarianism and weakens democracy. Merely proclaiming sovereignty is not enough; it must be exercised. It is crucial for democracies to speak up forcefully and take a stand when facing threats from authoritarian states. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China from January 14 to 17, and a delegation of five Canadian MPs visited Taiwan from January 10 to 16. However, two MPs, Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde, left early on January 13, confirming to CNA that it was on the advice of the Canadian government, which drew criticism from Canadian political circles. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150518