François Chihchung Wu
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 8, 2025
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Participants in the European Valued Important Partnership program;
Honorable representatives;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good evening!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is a pleasure to host this reception for our friends from the EVIP initiative.
Since 2022, the program has provided invaluable opportunities for young leaders across Europe to gain further understanding of Taiwan through immersive tours and meaningful exchanges with their Taiwanese counterparts. We are delighted to have with us 11 participants from Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Today, democracies worldwide are confronting the challenge of rising authoritarian expansionism. Situated at the heart of the first island chain, Taiwan stands on the front lines defending democracy. While attempts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty continue, I firmly believe that if democracies work together, we can safeguard our way of life. In doing our part, Taiwan will increase its national defense budget to 3.32 percent of GDP next year. This will ensure that our defensive capabilities constitute a credible deterrent to military adventurism.
At the same time, Taiwan is contributing to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We are working closely with Europe to advance our mutual interests in trade, investment, and technology. Underpinned by a commitment to shared values and the rules-based international order, our partnership includes industrial exchanges and building resilient non-red supply chains. We enjoy complementary strengths. Therefore, I believe that even on a city-to-city level there is much more we can do to deepen cooperation and achieve stable, secure, and sustainable growth.
The EVIP program embodies this spirit of solidarity. Your presence here is a testament to what can be achieved through people-to-people engagement. This is key to enhancing mutual understanding and fostering substantive cooperation. On this basis, I earnestly look forward to building even stronger ties across all domains between Taiwan and Europe.
In closing, I wish you all a fruitful and memorable stay that gives you fresh perspectives and leads to lasting connections. Thank you.