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Canada bill aimed at boosting ties with Taiwan passes 1st reading

2021-06-19
Focus Taiwan
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Image taken from facebook.com/michaelcooper4stalbertedmonton
Image taken from facebook.com/michaelcooper4stalbertedmonton

Toronto, June 17 (CNA) Proposed legislation aimed at creating a legal framework for efforts to strengthen relations between Canada and Taiwan unanimously passed its first reading in the Canadian House of Commons Thursday.

The Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act was introduced by Member of Parliament Michael Cooper, who said when proposing the act that not having a formal diplomatic relationship with Taiwan has complicated interactions between the two countries.

Cooper said Taiwan is one of Canada's largest trading partners, and the two share strong people-to-people links and common values.

Taiwan "is a vibrant economy and one of the world's top 20 economies. It is time Canada's relations with Taiwan reflect the reality that Taiwan is today and this legislation is an important step towards that," the Conservative MP said.

The proposed act would permit the office of Taiwan's representative in Canada to be referred to as the Taiwan Representative Office.

Taiwan's office in Canada is currently called the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office," which is used in many countries that adopt a "one China" policy and maintain no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Other elements of the act include preserving and promoting close relations between Canadian and Taiwanese people, including in economic, cultural and legal affairs.

The country should conduct foreign relations on the basis that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region are in the political, security and economic interests of Canada, and are matters of international concern, the act says.

It further stipulates that any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, or by boycotts or embargoes, would constitute a threat to the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific region and be of grave concern to Canada.

The proposed act supports the peaceful evolution of democratic political institutions in the Indo-Pacific region, it says.

Moreover, the Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act declares support for the participation of Taiwan in multilateral international organizations, including the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

It also encourages other states and non-governmental organizations to support that goal "so that Taiwan may play a role that is commensurate with its position in the Indo-Pacific region."

The act exempts the president and senior government officials of Taiwan from the need to obtain a visa required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act when the primary purpose of their visit to Canada is not official.

In an online press conference after introducing the act to the House of Commons, Cooper underlined that the Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act does not violate Canada's "one China" policy because when establishing formal ties with Beijing in 1970, Canada only "took note" of its claim that Taiwan is part of China.

This means there is flexibility in interactions between Canada and Taiwan, the MP said.

Asked if Canada should worry about protests from Beijing, Cooper said the introduction of the relations framework act has nothing to do with China. "Taiwan is simply too important. It's time we move forward to engage with Taiwan and enhance the relationship."

He emphasized the need for a clearly defined framework that specifies how the goal is to be achieved in respect of economic, cultural and legal affairs.

The act passed a first reading before the House of Commons goes into recess in late June, paving the way for its progress in the new session, which begins in September.

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