Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Defense Peter MacKay on Friday called for more resolve in supporting Taiwan’s efforts to join international institutions.
“There’s no doubt that Taiwan’s friends need to show more resolve and (be) clear in their support, political and practical to demonstrate that Taiwan is not alone. And we must be loud and clear that Taiwan is an essential partner for democracies and economies around the world,” MacKay said at the banquet dinner held after the annual Yushan Forum in Taipei.
Taiwan needs to be integrated into global trading and wider multilateral international systems because of its role as an economic player and power, said MacKay, who served as Canadian Minister of National Defense from 2007 to 2013 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2007.
“Beyond the WTO, beyond APEC, Taiwan needs to take her place at the tables of the international communication and aviation organizations, World Health Organization, places where it brings enormous value, adding expertise and capability to the issues required for global cooperation,” MacKay said.
It is currently an era of political surrealism and distortions which makes the need for clear speaking even more important, MacKay said.
In addition, he said the friendship Taiwan enjoys from countries and peoples around the world is derived from a recognition of the reality of Taiwan’s legitimacy, integrity, culture as a nation, and its people.
“It is based on a foundational commitment to building relationships with respect and honesty and acting with restraint to ensure transparency and maintaining open clear lines of communication,” MacKay said.
Taiwan’s actions leave no room for misinterpretation and leave every avenue open for peaceful cooperation, such as trade and people-to-people investments, he added.
The scientific, agricultural, and political ties that Taiwan has with the global community of partners is the living expression of Taiwan’s legitimate interests in engaging with the wider world for the advancement of its own prosperity and security and that of others, MacKay said.
The banquet dinner, hosted by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), wrapped up the sixth Yushan Forum, which was held at the Grand Mayfull Taipei, bringing together academics, experts, and opinion leaders from home and abroad to discuss regional development and recovery in the digital era.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taipei-based think tank Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, the day-long physical-virtual event involved representatives from across the New Southbound Policy region, including ASEAN countries, India, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Canada, the European Union, Japan, Palau, and the United States, among other countries and territories.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel