TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) visited the French Senate on Wednesday (Oct. 16) on the second stop of her European tour to bolster Taiwan-France relations.
Tsai landed in Paris on Tuesday, where she was welcomed by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, chair of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group. Lemoyne gave Tsai a tour of the French Senate, after which she attended a luncheon with 30 cross-party members of parliament supportive of Taiwan, per CNA.
According to Lemoyne, "France is the gateway to Europe. President Tsai wants to visit Europe, and it is natural for France to be one of the itineraries because it influences Europe and plays an important role in EU public policy decision-making.”
Lemoyne said China tried to "dissuade" him from hosting Tsai. He said French officials had "difficult conversations" with their Chinese counterparts, and that every time Taiwan-France relations progress, "the Chinese representative in France expresses his dissatisfaction.”
However, Lemoyne said the senate members and the people they represent have shown goodwill toward Taiwan. He added, “The benefits and joy of meeting Tsai surpassed everything."
"Since both Taiwan and France are residents of the Indo-Pacific region, they should of course maintain a firm connection centered on common values and issues,” Lemoyne added.
In addition, French National Assembly member Eric Bothorel said the Chinese embassy in France called him the previous day, telling him his participation in the luncheon with Tsai was "not a good idea." However, “France has never looked away from what is happening in Taiwan,” Bothorel said.
He added, “If one of the parties is threatened, as now when multiple fighter planes and warships interfere with Taiwan's surrounding area, there will definitely be friends around to support it.”
France’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday opposing China's military exercises around Taiwan on Monday.
Taiwan’s representative in France Hao Pei-chih (郝培芝) said Tsai's visit will "bring Taiwan-France relations to a new historical height." He said “breakthroughs" in all aspects of exchanges between the two sides are around the corner.
Tsai said that exchanges between Taiwan and France have become closer in recent years. For example, the Taiwan Friendship Group’s former Chair Alain Richard led a delegation to Taiwan four times.
Richard said that French parliamentarians deeply respect Tsai. He commented, "Now that she has left office, she can talk to many leaders. This is what she has done in France and throughout Europe. She can promote political dialogue, which will be very helpful to Taiwan.”
Tsai said bilateral cooperation in trade, science, technology, culture, education, and congressional exchanges has increased. She noted that in 2021, the French Parliament passed Taiwan-friendly resolutions supporting its participation in international organizations.
France also reaffirmed freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait in a seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023. Tsai said France was the first major country to adopt legislation to protect freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.
As Tsai wraps up the second leg of her European tour in France, US media has reported she may be planning a visit to the US "in the coming weeks.
Tsai’s tour has been met with opposition from China. China’s foreign ministry blacklisted Tsai as a "Taiwanese independence figure" and warned European countries that providing Tsai with any support or assistance could undermine their relations.
The Guardian reported that the U.K. foreign office had asked Tsai to delay her trip for fears that it would undermine Foreign Secretary David Lammy's pending visit to China.
