Korea-Taiwan partnership defends democracy, prosperity on global stage

Kuang-Chung Liang, the representative of the Taipei mission in Korea, gives a welcome speech during the Taiwan National Day event at Lotte Hotle Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Kuang-Chung Liang, the representative of the Taipei mission in Korea, underscored the significance of the Taiwan-Korea partnership as a beacon of hope and progress in a world that values freedom, democracy and human rights, during the Taiwan National Day ceremony held in Seoul, Friday.

In Liang's perspective, the Taiwan Strait and Korean Peninsula are not mere geopolitical flashpoints; they serve as linchpins in the broader defense of global freedom, democracy and human rights. Furthermore, they are integral to the preservation of sturdy and dependable global supply chains, which are the cornerstone of the contemporary global economy.

"We firmly believe that bolstering investment and fostering cooperation in economic matters and trade, while maintaining robust and resilient supply chains, are fundamental requisites for democracies in their efforts to counter authoritarianism," he said.

Liang noted the significant progress made in trade relations between the two countries since he assumed office in July last year.

He expressed satisfaction at witnessing the total bilateral trade volume surging to $56.42 billion in the past year, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2021. This development has resulted in Korea becoming Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner, with Taiwan reciprocally ranking as Korea's sixth-largest trading partner.

Taiwanese students sing their national anthem during the Taiwan National Day event at Lotte Hotel Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

In addition, Liang anticipated that the bilateral Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion (ADTA) would soon come into effect by the end of the year. He expressed eagerness to expedite the consultation and negotiation of a "bilateral investment agreement" to create a more favorable investment environment for enterprises from both nations.

On the cultural front, Liang noted the gradual return to normalcy in exchanges between the two countries after Taiwan reopened its borders at the end of last year. He highlighted the recent launch of the new Kaohsiung-Gimpo air route on June 30, which has significantly enhanced the convenience of travel between the two nations. Liang optimistically predicted that the number of visitors between Taiwan and Korea might soon surpass the 3 million mark.

Concluding his remarks, Liang expressed Taiwan's eagerness to collaborate with Korea and other like-minded nations through regional and international organizations. Together, they could collectively address pressing transnational challenges, encompassing issues such as climate change, post-pandemic recovery, sustainable development and cybersecurity.

Additionally, Liang called for the international community's support in urging the United Nations to rectify the erroneous interpretation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and to endorse Taiwan's meaningful participation in the U.N., emphasizing the mutual interests of the global community.