Conservative MP Michael Chong visits Taiwan to meet President, in defiance of China
Conservative MP Michael Chong visited Taiwan to meet President Lai Ching-te, defying a warning from China's ambassador to Canada against such trips. Chong stated the visit was to show support for Taiwan's democracy and assert Canada's sovereignty in foreign travel decisions. The trip, self-funded by Chong, underscores ongoing tensions between China and countries maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.
- ▪Michael Chong is the Conservative foreign affairs critic and has served as a Member of Parliament for over two decades.
- ▪China's ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, warned that visits by Canadian MPs to Taiwan could damage a newly formed strategic partnership between Canada and China.
- ▪Chong financed the trip himself and plans to meet with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, trade officials, and representatives from Canada's trade office in Taipei.
- ▪Canada does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but maintains robust unofficial ties and trade connections.
- ▪Chinese authorities consider Taiwan a breakaway province and have not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification.
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Open this photo in gallery:Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 14.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountA Canadian MP has arrived in Taiwan to meet President Lai Ching-te in defiance of a recent warning from China’s ambassador against further trips to the self-governed island by Parliamentarians from Canada.Beijing considers the democracy of 24 million people a breakaway province despite the fact China’s governing Communist Party has never ruled the territory since it took power more than 76 years ago.Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong arrived in Taipei, the seat of Taiwan’s government, on Sunday and is scheduled to meet with Mr.
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