Taiwan-friendly parliamentary group meets in Taipei

Taipei, Oct. 27 (CNA) The Formosa Club in Europe, a cross-party platform of European legislators launched to strengthen ties with Taiwan, is holding its annual summit in Taipei to stand together with the country, the annual summit's chair said Monday in Taipei.

"We are gathered as a representative of the Formosa Club, an international cross-party platform of legislators that was launched in 2019 to strengthen ties with Taiwan and uphold the shared values of democracy," Rihards Kols, chair of the Formosa Club annual conference, said at a Taipei press conference.

According to Kols, a Latvian politician who was elected a member of the European Parliament in 2024, since its initiation, the Formosa Club has become a major international platform supporting Taiwan's inclusion in international institutions such as the World Health Organization and Interpol.

The club also regularly issues statements condemning military provocations in the Taiwan Strait, and standing against disinformation, cyber threats and economic coercion, he added.

"And we recognize Taiwan not only as a partner, but as a trusted democratic ally," he said.

Kols said that Taiwan now stands on the frontline of defending democracy. Its prosperity has direct implications "for global security, and for European economic stability, and for the credibility of the international rules-based order."

The Latvian politician warned that there are "players who are determined to disrupt and change the international order by force."

It is the world's democracies' duty and responsibility to stand united against such aggression, Kols said.

He called on global democracies to "strengthen the international rules-based order and enhance partnerships among democratic societies here in the Indo-Pacific."

In welcoming the Taiwan-friendly group to Taiwan, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said during the same press event that this year's gathering is of significance because it marks the first time the Formosa Club's annual conference is being held in Taipei.

"You [the Formosa Club] have shown that democratic solidarity knows no borders and that friendship rooted in shared values can withstand even the most intense external pressure," Lin said in his address.

The nation's top diplomat pledged that Taiwan will continue to serve as a driving force for global prosperity, as it plays a pivotal role in the global semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries.

"We are dedicated to increasing economic security and building resilient supply chains, in line with our broader vision of ensuring prosperity for our allies."

"As Europe seeks to diversify its relations and increase its autonomy, Taiwan stands ready as a reliable, trustworthy, and innovative partner," he said.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Formosa Club was established in October 2019, initiated by chairpersons of the Taiwan friendship groups from the European Parliament and national parliaments of the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

MOFA said the Formosa Club's 2025 annual conference, being held from Monday through Tuesday, marks the club's second annual conference. The first was held in Europe on May 24, 2023.

A total of 45 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and 18 European national parliaments are visiting Taiwan for the event, MOFA said.