Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visits Europe to strengthen the island’s ties with “democracies”

Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during the annual Forum 2000 conference in Prague, October 14, 2024. DOROTA HOLUBOVA / REUTERS During her two terms as president of Taiwan, from May 2016 to May 2024, Tsai Ing-wen -wen has always strived to seek a balance between defending the sovereignty of the independent island, without, however, provoking China, which considers Taiwan to be a rebel province destined to “reintegrate” into the Chinese fold. While in France, where she met senators, the ex-president, 68, continues to promote Taiwan’s ties with democratic countries, in complete discretion. She announced her arrival in Paris on Tuesday October 15 with a simple photo in front of the Louvre pyramid, published on social networks and accompanied by a message: “I am delighted to be in Paris and I can’t wait to meet more people. friends of Taiwan. Here in France, I will emphasize our common values ​​of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. » Also read the decryption | Article reserved for our subscribers Taiwan: under the presidency of Tsai Ing-wen the tightrope walker, eight years of stability in the storm Add to your selections This was a first: current Taiwanese presidents never make a visit official abroad except in the few small states which recognize the island and not the People’s Republic of China. Retired since May, Ms. Tsai can now get involved, with the full agreement of her successor, Lai Ching-te, in the informal diplomacy that Taiwan deploys, particularly with the world’s democracies to counterbalance Chinese pressure. On Monday, China launched major military exercises around Taiwan, presented as “serious warnings” against “separatist actions”, four days after new President Lai’s National Day speech. Chinese protests “She embodied Taiwan until the beginning of the year, and retains an important aura after her two mandates,” estimates Olivier Cadic, centrist Union senator, representing French people established outside France. Today, she can travel, which she could not do when she was president,” notes the senator who participated in a lunch organized Wednesday at the Senate by the France-Taiwan friendship group. Ms. Tsai was accompanied by a delegation of more than twenty members, including representatives of large companies such as TSMC, the world number one in semiconductor production. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers One military exercise after another, China is preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan Add to your selections According to Taiwanese media, Ms. Tsai still has to go to Strasbourg and Brussels to meet European elected officials . She began her stay in Europe on Monday by giving a speech at the 2000 Forum in Prague, whose theme this year seemed tailor-made: “Demonstrating the determination and resilience of democracy”. The Chinese embassy in the Czech Republic protested on Tuesday, saying it was “firmly opposed to separatists who support ‘Taiwan independence'”, under any name, going to countries that have established relations diplomatic relations with China. You have 28.6% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.



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