Dr. Roy Chun Lee
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
December 7, 2023
(As delivered)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good evening!
It is an honor to attend this meaningful annual event commemorating the day when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.
Seventy-five years after this historic milestone, we face a volatile international outlook. Several severe conflicts are under way around the globe, with no real end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped in these battle zones, suffering unimaginable and inhuman hardships.
Taiwan has gone through times of great strife and great transformation in order to finally achieve what we have today. I am proud to say that human rights are deeply rooted in the DNA of the Taiwanese people. We cherish our hard-earned freedom and democracy and are always seeking progress in further protecting human rights.
The Taiwanese people also understand that there are no real winners in the chaos of war. And that is why, in the face of the ongoing military threats posed by authoritarian regimes, Taiwan is committed to working with like-minded partners to uphold and preserve our vibrant democratic ways of life.
Taiwan and the EU share the values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. It has been profoundly encouraging to see us hold productive human rights consultations every year for the past six years. In the years ahead, Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the EU to build a brighter future that is underpinned by our common belief in human rights for all.
Thank you!