Alberto Rubio
“The repercussions of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be far bigger than those caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, said Ambassador José María Liu during his speech on the occasion of the celebration in Madrid of Taiwan’s National Day, the ‘Double Ten’.
The Taiwanese representative in Spain explained that it should be borne in mind that his country “has become the main global supplier and the key piece in the chip supply chain worldwide“, with 63% of the world market.
José María Liu added that “only when we work together and there is mutual support, can we succeed in defending against the expansionist goal of authoritarian regimes“. He underlined the four commitments expressed by President Tsai Ing-wen: democracy; non-subordination of the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China to each other; resisting any invasion of Taiwan; and that the future of the Republic of China should be decided by the Taiwanese themselves.
Ambassador Liu thanked “like-minded and allied countries, such as Spain, with whom we share values such as freedom, democracy and respect for human rights” for their “support”.
On the bilateral front, after pointing out that in 2021 bilateral trade between Spain and Taiwan was close to 2.5 billion dollars and that this year, according to forecasts, it could exceed 3.1 billion, he expressed his wish “that the Spanish Government will take us into account and understand that we are working for the mutual benefit of both the Spanish and Taiwanese peoples”.
Finally, he announced that “the Taiwan Railway Administration has just signed a contract with the Spanish company Stadler Rail Valencia for the purchase of 34 train locomotives worth 160 million euros, which Spain will deliver to Taiwan next March and which will contribute to the balance of trade”, which is currently in favour of the Asian country to the tune of 1,000 million dollars.
The reception was attended, among others, by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Nuncio Bernardito Auza; MPs Eloy Suárez (PP) and Aitor Esteban (PNV); and members of the Independent Association of Parliamentarians and Former Parliamentarians Friends of Taiwan.
