The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver hosted the 113th National Day Reception on October 4, 2024. Together with 300 Canadian friends and expatriates, we celebrated the myriad of accomplishments that Taiwan has jointly achieved with Canada over the past year.
In her remarks, Director General Liu stated that she came here with a firm conviction that Taiwan-Canada ties will become closer in the face of geopolitical shifts. Thanks to many like-minded partners in the community, bilateral exchanges have gone from strength to strength over the past year. E-One Moli has moved forward with an expansion project to build a $1.05 billion lithium ion battery plant in Maple Ridge while Hsinchu’s Andes Technologies has established a microprocessor design centre in Burnaby. Taiwanese innovators are also linking up with the Malahat Nation in Vancouver Island to produce a new generation of energy battery storage systems. Seeking to maintain this economic momentum, policymakers in Taipei and Ottawa have inked the groundbreaking Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement (FIPA), and are thinking of ways to operationalize the Indigenous Peoples Economic Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA).
To ensure the long-term viability of these investments, there needs to be commensurate tariff reductions. The Director General therefore hopes that Canada will take a clear stance in support of Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Given that many of the provisions of the CPTPP were written into the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, Taiwan can meet the trade bloc’s standards.
Since President Lai Ching-te unveiled his action plan to accelerate the development of Taiwan’s five industry sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, next-generation telecommunications, and strategic innovations, there is more room for collaboration between likeminded democracies with complementary economies. Acknowledging BC’s Deputy Minister for Economic Development for personally inaugurating the province’s trade and investment office in Taiwan, the Director General was also pleased that more policymakers and business leaders from Western Canada, including Maple Ridge’s mayor and luminaries from Surrey Board of Trade and Invest Vancouver, are participating in Taiwan’s exhibitions and conventions.
In the face of Chinese, North Korean, Russian and Iranian autocratic expansionism, democracies worldwide must act together. The Director General thanked Canada for joining other G7 countries to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and highlighted how the Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair has publicly asserted that Canada will maintain a stable presence in the region. Serving as the provider of 90% of the world’s most advanced conductors, Taiwan is an indispensable link in global supply chains. The Director General was glad that Chairperson Emily Ohler of BC’s Human Rights Tribunal had the opportunity to connect with Chairperson Chen Chu of Taiwan’s National Human Rights Commission in-person to discuss indigenous history and transitional justice.
Rounding off her remarks, the Director General thanked Canada for backing calls to include Taiwan within the World Health Organization’s mechanisms, and hoped that Ottawa can render the same support when it comes to Taiwan’s participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan. Taiwan will continue to be a force for good, and make greater contributions to the international community.
Taking the stage, Liberal MP Parm Bains stated that Taiwan and Canada have always been good partners in promoting freedom and strengthening economic cooperation, and hoped that Taiwanese and Canadian policymakers can continue to deepen all areas of collaboration.
For his part, Conservative MP Ed Fast asserted that while Taiwan and Canada has enjoyed a friendship of many years, more discussions can take place to further advance bilateral economic relations. Recognizing Taiwan as a likeminded partner, Fast has always supported calls to include Taiwan within the CPTPP, ICAO and other UN frameworks.
Offering up his congratulations, NDP Leader and MP Jagmeet Singh said that he was thoroughly impressed by its vibrant democracy and cultural dynamism during a previous visit, back when he was still an MLA. He stressed that the NDP will continue to stand with Taiwan through thick and thin.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, and Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry were also present to extend their best wishes. The municipal leaders recognized the contributions of Taiwanese members within their communities’ cultural and economic sectors and expressed their belief that Taiwanese-Canadian friendship will continue to get closer.
TECO Vancouver looks forward to enhancing Taiwan’s flourishing friendship with Canada in the year ahead. Let’s work together to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and advance our substantive ties.
