Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs to Visit Taiwan
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Michael Chong, Conservative Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, released the following statement on his visit to Taiwan from May 18 to 21:
“Canada has important economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties with Taiwan. In 2024, Taiwan was Canada’s 15th largest trading partner and 6th largest in Asia, and Canadian MPs have been visiting Taiwan for decades.
“During my visit to Taiwan, I will be meeting with Dr. Lai Ching-te, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Jen-Ni Yang, Minister and Trade Representative, and Dr. Chen Ming-chi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. I will also be meeting with officials at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
“My visit to Taiwan serves two purposes. First, to show solidarity with a democracy at the front lines of intimidation from the People’s Republic of China. Second, to assert Canadian sovereignty in the face of a warning from the PRC’s ambassador to Canada about Canadian MPs travelling to Taiwan.
“Canada is a sovereign and independent country. We do not take direction from a foreign government about where Canadian MPs can travel internationally, and where Royal Canadian Navy warships can transit in international waters.
“To remain silent and comply in the face of intimidation is to accommodate this behaviour, further embolden authoritarianism and further weaken democracy. It’s not simply sufficient to proclaim sovereignty; sovereignty must be exercised. It is important that democracies speak up and take a stand in the face of intimidation from authoritarian states.”