Canadian MPs arrive in Taiwan in latest show of Western support after Tsai’s U.S. trip – National | 24CA News
A delegation of Canadian MPs has arrived in Taiwan for a multi-day go to, marking the most recent displaying of Western assist for the island following the Taiwanese president’s journey to the U.S. final week.
The arrival of the delegation additionally comes after China accomplished three days of large-scale fight drills close to Taiwan that included sealing off the democratically-governed island, which Beijing views as its personal.
The multi-party delegation is being led by Liberal MP John McKay, who chairs the House of Commons standing committee on nationwide defence, in keeping with an announcement from his workplace Monday asserting the group’s arrival.
That committee’s vice-chair, Conservative MP James Bezan, can also be part of the group, together with members of the particular committee on Canada-China relations and international affairs committee vice-chair Stephane Bergeron of the Bloc Quebecois. In complete, the group consists of three Liberal MPs, 4 Conservative MPs, two NDP MPs and Bergeron as the only consultant of the Bloc.
The delegation landed in Taipei on Sunday and shall be there till April 15, McKay’s workplace stated.
The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei stated in a Facebook submit the group will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te, in addition to business group representatives and native non-governmental organizations.
The Canadians’ arrival comes only a day after Tsai met with a delegation of U.S. lawmakers in Taiwan over the weekend.
That go to got here after Tsai returned from a visit to the United States that culminated in a bilateral assembly with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
Tsai’s abroad journey, which was framed as a fragile mission to shore up Taiwan’s dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and enhance its U.S. assist, angered China and sparked three days of army drills across the island.
The workout routines had been much like ones performed by China final August, when it launched missile strikes on targets within the seas round Taiwan in retaliation for then-speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s go to to Taiwan, however have been smaller and fewer disruptive.
Canada final despatched a delegation of MPs to Taiwan final October, which additionally sparked a hostile response from Beijing that claimed the go to “blatantly violates the one-China principle” and “grossly interferes” with its inner affairs.
China’s embassy in Canada didn’t reply to a request for remark Monday on the most recent delegation.
Although Canada says it respects the “One-China Policy” that doesn’t acknowledge Taiwan’s sovereignty from China, Taiwan nonetheless enjoys commerce relationships and bilateral cooperation with Ottawa.
Taiwan is included in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, unveiled late final 12 months, which seeks to deepen financial relations with most international locations within the area whereas transferring away from dependence on Chinese commerce and funding.
In February, International Trade Minister Mary Ng introduced she and Taiwan’s commerce consultant John Deng had agreed to to start formal negotiations on a commerce settlement that may strengthen commerce and funding.
Taiwan can also be a key producer of semiconductor chips which have turn out to be essential to the know-how and telecommunication industries, prompting Canada to hunt deeper cooperation on investments and contracting.
— with recordsdata from the Associated Press
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