Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday said that sharing her country’s experience in combating disinformation could help to safeguard freedom and democracy globally.
Tsai had received seven lawmakers from the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes (INGE).
The team arrived on Wednesday for a three-day official visit.
This marked the first time that the European Parliament had sent an official delegation to Taiwan.
Contacts between EU states and Taiwan had been increasing of late.
Tsai said that she knew that the team had come to learn how Taiwan handled hybrid threats and disinformation adding that Taiwan was willing to share with European friends its experience of fighting disinformation from authoritarian regimes.
Tsai said that the European Parliament’s approval of its first report on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation two weeks ago sent a strong signal of support.
“We believe that Taiwan and the EU can certainly continue strengthening our partnership in all domains,’’ Tsai said.
The report encourages increased economic, scientific, cultural, political and people-to-people exchanges, meetings and cooperation between the EU and Taiwan.
French MEP, Raphael Glucksmann, said the delegation’s arrival sent a clear message: “You are not alone.
Europe is standing with you, by you, in the defence of freedom and the defence of rule of law and human dignity.’
“Our visit should be considered an important first step.
“Next we need a very concrete agenda of high-level meetings,’’ Glucksmann added.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the democratic island part of its territory and opposes any form of official contacts between Taiwan and others. (dpa/NAN)
