Canadians and former Taiwanese Prime Minister You urge normalisation of Canada-Taiwan Relations
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Posted by Press Release on 00:53:14 2007/09/23
Canadians and former Taiwanese Prime Minister You urge normalisation of Canada-Taiwan Relations
For Immediate Release
Saturday, 22 September, 2007
Markham, Ontario, Canada - Honourable You, Si-kun, Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan and former Prime Minister (2002-2005), joined by representatives of the Taiwanese Canadian community and the Canadian Coalition for Democracies urged Prime Minister Harper to continue his strong support for democracy and democratic movements around the world.
"Canada must be consistent in its support for democracy," said Albert Lin, President, Taiwanese Canadian Association of Toronto. "At a time when we are calling on Canadians and members of the international community to support democracy in Afghanistan, in the Americas, and in the Middle East, we have a moral obligation to publicly support democratic Taiwan."
On the eve of Prime Minister Harper's departure to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, we call on him to continue his strong support for democracy and democratic values around the world by supporting Taiwan's full participation in the international body, and by taking steps to ensure that both Canada and Taiwan are full and active participants in the UN Democracy Caucus.
Canada and Taiwan's bilateral relations have been kept at a distance because of pressure from the People's Republic of China.
"Canada and Taiwan are both democratic nations who value rule of law, a free media, liberty, individual rights and responsibilities, independent judiciaries and elected governments," said Naresh Raghubeer, Executive Director, Canadian Coalition for Democracies. "Prime Minister Harper must not allow China's bullying to govern bilateral relations and cooperation, including on issues of trade, public safety and security, and human rights between two democracies."
"On behalf of all Canadians, we urge Prime Minister Harper to publicly support the 23 million people and the government of a strong, democratic and sovereign Taiwan by normalising relations ," added Lin.
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