Taiwan welcomes French Senate delegation ‘despite threats’ from Beijing

Five delegates from French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group expected to meet Taiwanese president to discuss closer cooperation between Taipei and Paris

Beijing has warned group chief Alain Richard not to engage in official exchanges with Taipei, fearing politicians from other European countries could follow

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French Senator Alain Richard bumps elbows with a Taiwanese official on arrival at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Published: 9:30pm, 6 Oct 2021Updated: 10:11pm, 6 Oct 2021

A group of French senators arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a five-day visit to show support for the self-ruled island amid mounting tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

Led by Alain Richard, a former French defence minister and head of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, the five-member delegation is expected to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday and exchange opinions on closer cooperation between Taipei and Paris, despite repeated protests by Beijing that the visit violates the one-China policy.

Taiwan’s presidential office said that during the meeting, Tsai would award Richard a medal to “honour his support for Taiwan and his contributions to the development of Taiwan-France relations”.

Before leaving for Taiwan, Olivier Cadic, vice-president of the French Senate’s foreign affairs committee, said it was essential to strengthen exchanges between Taiwan and France.

Other members of the delegation include the friendship group’s vice-president Max Brisson, Else Joseph and secretary Judith Bout. They will also meet Premier Su Tseng-chang, legislature speaker You si-kun and other senior Taiwanese officials.

Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister Harry Tseng, left, greets French Senator Alain Richard, centre, leading a delegation arriving in Taiwan on October 6, 2021. Photo: CNA Pool

They will attend the Yushan Forum on Friday – an Asian regional dialogue initiated by Taiwan intended to expand opportunities for cooperation and boost the exchange of ideas, talent, technology and social initiatives.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry welcomed the group’s visit and thanked the French visitors “for their determination to bring this trip to fruition, despite the threats from [Beijing]”.