Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
June 29, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good evening!
It is truly a great honor to be here tonight. I sincerely thank the British Office Taipei for inviting me to join you in celebrating the first official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III.
Succeeding the long-remembered Queen Elizabeth II, His Majesty King Charles III has a vision and forward-looking approach to pave the way for an even brighter future for the United Kingdom, especially in the field of environmental sustainability.
Along this vision, Taiwan and the UK cooperate closely in the development of renewable energy, particularly offshore wind power. Together, we have made significant strides toward promoting sustainable practices and combating climate change.
Other than that, our trade and investment figures are on the upward swing. In 2022, the total amount of our bilateral trade reached 6.6 billion USD, an increase of 6.72 percent compared to 2021. Just look at the visibility of 007’s favorite car Aston Martin on the street, you know we are doing OK in trade.
One of the most well-received advancements in our bilateral relations over the past few years was the mutual recognition of drivers licenses. This has made the UK feel more like home to many Taiwanese people living there. As many of you know, the British drive on the left, while in Taiwan we drive on the right. I personally believe that if two countries with completely different driving practices could reach an agreement on this, there is nothing we cannot accomplish together. And with that spirit, perhaps Taiwan can help your Heathrow Airport improve its efficiency.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the British Office in Taipei. What can be more memorable to celebrate this anniversary than having former Prime Minister Liz Truss visit Taiwan last month. Her wisdom and her support of Taiwan, especially her powerful statement “your future is our future” will be long remembered. Thank you, Prime Minister Truss.
We have also heard from Foreign Secretary Cleverly as reported by the Guardian, that he fundamentally disagrees that the Taiwan Strait is a domestic matter for Beijing, and insists that it is in everybody’s interests to have a peaceful resolution to the situation. Those words of care and concern for Taiwan will make Taiwan people feel reassured in pursuing regional peace and stability knowing we have the UK supporting us.
And of course I also want to thank the British Office, my great friend John in particular, for everything you have done to strengthen the bilateral relations. I am sure, with our joint effort, our ties will go from strength to strength.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday to His Majesty King Charles III, and wish you all health and happiness.