SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Canada-Taiwan Relations

Honourable senators, I rise today to speak about a recent Senate delegation I had the honour of leading to Taiwan earlier this month. It was a privilege to be back in Taipei and to be accompanied this time by a group of our distinguished colleagues, all of whom were visiting for the first time. All of us who were on this trip agree that witnessing in real time the sheer scale of what the Taiwanese people have built in the shadow of tyranny was a powerful reminder of why this relationship must be a cornerstone of Canada’s foreign policy.

It reinforced what I’ve been saying in this chamber for years: Taiwan is not only a partner; they are also an indispensable democratic anchor in the Indo-Pacific. I want to thank Vice President Hsiao and the various ministers we met during this trip.

Their hospitality was gracious, but their message was urgent. They are on the front lines of a struggle between freedom and tyranny, and they are standing all together. Today, we see a small island of 23 million people punching so far above its weight that it has surpassed the United Kingdom as the world’s seventh-largest stock market.

It commands nearly 80% of the global foundry market. Every AI chip, every EV component and every advanced defence system we rely on starts there in Taiwan. They have managed to do all this, as I said earlier, under the constant shadow of the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression. That is precisely why it poses such a profound threat to the regime. It is a living, breathing example that freedom and prosperity can exist and flourish without the suffocating grip of authoritarian control.

I want to once again reiterate in this chamber that Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese people. They are not a province to be absorbed. They are a world-leading democracy that has earned its seat at every global table, and they deserve our unwavering respect on the world stage.

They are precisely the kind of partnership we should be prioritizing. While others remain focused on doing business with authoritarian regimes, Taiwan offers a different, more secure path.

In Taiwan, we have a partner — one that invests in our industries and offers the high-tech know-how built on trust and shared values.

Taiwan must matter more to Canada’s future than any other partnership in the Indo-Pacific. The facts just don’t lie: Our values demand it. Our partnership with Taiwan is inevitable. We do not need permission from anyone to engage with a natural ally. Canada must prioritize its partnership with Taiwan unapologetically and fervently. Thank you, colleagues.