- cross-posted to:
- world@quokk.au
- globalnews@lemmy.zip
- cross-posted to:
- world@quokk.au
- globalnews@lemmy.zip
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) welcomed Canadian Senator Leo Housakos to Taiwan on Wednesday.
The two sides exchanged views on deepening Taiwan-Canada economic and trade ties, healthcare cooperation, Indigenous exchanges, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference, according to the foreign ministry.
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Taiwan and Canada have highly complementary industries and could explore cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, communications resilience, and energy security.
Housakos said Taiwan and Canada share values such as democracy and human rights, making them important partners. He expressed hope that his trip would provide a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s soft power and its efforts to counter disinformation.
“While some chase fleeting ties with authoritarian regimes, our focus must remain on long-term stability with democratic allies,” Housakos posted on social media.
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Taiwan is Canada’s second-largest investment partner in Asia and its sixth-largest trading partner. It added that Taiwan would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Canada to promote shared economic prosperity and regional peace.
The title is pretty misleading. It’s not like this is actually a trip organized by Canada’s government. It’s a Conservative senator who initiated the trip and is leading it, not under official direction of Canada’s government. More accurate to say it’s on behalf of himself, the Senate opposition and/or the Conservative party.
It’s at least a step in the right direction. Canada needs to diversify its trade, and Taiwan has a lot to offer. Any country, particularly a democratic one that accepts the rule of law and is, therefore, reliable, must be highly welcome.