President Tsai Ing-wen receives high-level delegation from European Parliament

President Tsai Ing-wen receives high-level delegation from European Parliament

2022-07-20

President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday received a high-level delegation from the European Parliament at the Presidential Office. The delegation is led by Nicola Beer, the vice president of the EU body. Beer expressed support for Taiwan, saying that the EU would stand up against any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. She added that decisions on the future of Taiwan should be made by the people of Taiwan.

One by one, President Tsai Ing-wen greets the members of a delegation led by European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer. It’s a historic moment.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
As the first high-level official delegation to Taiwan from the European Parliament, your visit is exceptionally significant in deepening our bilateral relations.

The president detailed how since last year, the European Parliament has adopted 20 pro-Taiwan resolutions. She stressed that the EU and Taiwan are likeminded democratic partners.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In addition, faced with the expansion of authoritarianism, Taiwan stands on the front line in defending democracy. We are willing and able to share our experiences with the world. We also look forward to strengthening cooperation with fellow democracies so as to jointly create a resilient democratic alliance.

Nicola Beer
European Parliament vice president
Together with you, we are working for peace and stability in the region. So we stand up against any provocation or threatening of the status quo. We want to continue also having good relations with the People’s Republic of China, but let me express clearly Europe’s deep and serious concern about China moving in a direction that could unilaterally alter the status quo. This must not happen, under no circumstances, under no pretext. Only the Taiwanese people can decide on Taiwanese future. We call on the Public’s [People’s] Republic of China to refrain from its threatening gestures. We admonish China not to destroy Taiwan, but to take an active and constructive part in maintaining and securing the current status quo based on mutual and respectful dialogue.

Beer expressed solidarity with Taiwan, saying that Taiwan had the power and should be respected on the international stage.

Nicola Beer
European Parliament vice president
Expressing this wish contributing to fulfill it. This is really conviction of European Parliament. And my personal conviction as well. For peace, security and stability in the region, for Taiwan, Europe and the world.

Beer, who is from Germany, wished peace and security for the world, while stressing the EU’s strong friendship with Taiwan.

歐議會副議長:台人決定台灣未來反中改變現狀

2022-07-20

蔡總統今天接見來訪的歐洲議會副議長畢爾一行人，這是歐洲議會高層首度訪台，總統認為這對台歐關係深化意義非凡。畢爾也當面聲援台灣，只有台灣人可以決定台灣未來，他反對任何改變現狀的作為，呼籲中國停止威脅台灣。

接見歐洲議會副議長畢爾訪團，總統一一點頭致意，這可是歷史性的一刻。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“這次是歐洲議會高層，首度正式訪問台灣，對我們雙邊關係的深化意義非凡。”

總統細數去年至今，歐洲議會通過20項友台決議案，強調台灣和歐盟是理念相近的民主夥伴。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“面對威權主義擴張，台灣位處在民主防線的最前緣，我們有能力也願意和世界各國分享經驗，也期待跟民主夥伴加強合作，共同打造具有韌性的民主陣線。”

[[歐洲議會副議長畢爾]]
“我們持續地要維護區域的和平與穩定，並反對任何試圖改變現狀、挑釁的作為。我們非常樂意與中國保持友好關係，但是，我要在此聲明，歐洲對於中國趨向單方面改變現狀的作法，表達嚴正關切。單方面改變現狀的局面，不論基於任何說詞，無論如何絕對不能發生，只有台灣人可以決定台灣自己的未來，我們呼籲中國停止威脅恫嚇，同時也告誡中國，切勿破壞台灣，而是應該在與台灣互相尊重和對話的基礎上，積極且有建設地去維持並守護現狀。”

畢爾高分貝聲援台灣，肯定台灣有實力，也應該有尊嚴的在世界立足。

[[歐洲議會副議長畢爾]]
“我發願，會致力實現我本人，以及歐洲議會的信念，那就是促進區域和平安全及穩定，為世界、為歐洲、為台灣而努力。”

來自德國的畢爾，堅定友台信念，給台灣送暖。

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Taiwan is hosting its first exhibition by celebrated Japanese artist Asao Tokolo. The artist is best known for designing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics emblem. But he’’s renowned as a pattern pioneer worldwide. The designer and educator has been working with the theme "connection" for decades, and the work in his new show is no exception. Visitors can even contribute to its most unforgettable scene, by adding a small piece of origami to the work. We caught up with Tokolo to hear more of what "connection" means to him.

Over 1,000 paper cranes strung together to create a sea of birds. This is Tokolo’’s first exhibition in Taiwan. Visitors are invited to contribute more origami cranes to send blessings out into the world. The whole exhibition features 300 of Tokolo’’s works brought over from Japan, including the "Harmonised Chequered Emblem" designed to represent the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

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The Tokyo Olympics emblem is a ring shape, and the Paralympics is the shape of an open mouth. Everyone saw the performance by the drones at the opening ceremony. They even turned the rings into balls. It all tried to express connection. For the image created by the drone performance, other designers and engineers collaborated - it was a team effort.

Tokolo graduated from the architectural school of Tokyo Zokei University in 1992. He founded his own pattern design studio in 2001 and in 2020 he designed the Olympic emblem. But surprisingly, when asked why he switched from architecture to patterns and graphic design, Tokolo names 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. as his prompt.

Asao Tokolo
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Vast tragedies like 9/11 represent a kind of rupture. Some people can express their feelings about a rupture like this using words, in language, or they can express some kind of wish for healing. But I’’m not someone who can express himself well in words. So it’’s through pictures that I express my wish for the world to reconnect once more.

Connection is the theme that runs through all the art in the show. Tokolo hopes the friendship between Taiwan and Japan will deepen and become more intimate as Taiwanese visitors engage with his work.

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Today Uni-President Enterprises Corporation and President Chain Store Corporation approved a resolution through their board of directors to acquire equity stake in Carrefour Taiwan.

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Carrefour Taiwan entered the Taiwan market 34 years ago, aided by Uni-President founder Kao Ching-yuen. At the time, Carrefour held 60% equity stake, with Uni-President holding the remaining 40%. The French company said that if it ever decided to leave Taiwan, Uni-President would be given priority to purchase its stake.

Reports that Carrefour was planning to pull out of Taiwan had been circulating for some time, with Far Eastern Group, Fubon Group, PX Mart and Cathay Group’s Tsai Cheng-yu all expressing interest in acquiring the company. In the end, Uni-President got the deal, purchasing all of the remaining 60% equity stake for NT$65 per share, turning Carrefour Taiwan from a French company into a fully Taiwan-owned company.

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The temple’s president, although a member of the KMT, gifted Chen a calligraphy scroll he had written himself.

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Emphasizing the importance of asymmetric warfare, Esper said Taiwan would have to adopt mass conscription, and have all citizens serve at least one year in the military. Some Taiwanese people seem to agree.

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The length of conscription isn’t the point, it’s what’s being trained. What missions those being mobilized will carry out, I believe that’s more important.

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