《TAIPEI TIMES》 World perceives Taiwan as a force for good: Lai

By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter

International society values Taiwan highly, Vice President William Lai （賴清德） said yesterday after returning from a trip to Paraguay for the inauguration of President Santiago Pena, adding that the trip helped bolster ties with the South American nation and bilateral cooperation.

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Appointed by President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） as a special envoy to deliver Taiwan’s congratulations to Pena, Lai departed on Saturday last week for a seven-day trip, including stopovers in New York and San Francisco.

Thanks to the efforts of Taiwanese, Taiwan is perceived as a force for good internationally and can “enter the international community with confidence and dignity,” Lai said.

He thanked the Paraguayan government for its hospitality, adding: “I firmly believe that this trip would be of great help to the stability of the friendship between the two countries and the strengthening of future cooperation.”

Pena “frankly and firmly” stood for the belief that the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay is based on the common values of democracy, freedom and human rights, Lai said.

The Paraguayan president promised to fully support his country’s ties with Taiwan and expressed a sincere hope that the two sides would continue to strengthen cooperation between the government and the people in future, he said.

Pena’s goal is to fight poverty in Paraguay through education, health, medical care and employment — fields in which the South American country can further deepen its existing cooperation with Taiwan, Lai said.

The delegation also visited former Paraguayan president Mario Abdo Benitez to thank him for nurturing ties with Taiwan during the past five years, he said.

Abdo will continue to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation as a senator, Lai said, adding that former Paraguayan presidents automatically become senators for life, he said.

Kuo Ya-hui （郭雅慧）, Lai’s presidential campaign office spokesperson, called the trip “a successful diplomatic visit that proves Lai is a leader who is capable of leading Taiwan to the world.”

Lai is the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate in January’s election.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun reported on Pena mentioning Taiwan in his inauguration speech while Kyodo News and Jiji news agency stated that US Secretary of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland talked to Lai at the ceremony, Kuo said.

The New York Times quoted Taiwan New Constitution Foundation deputy director Song Cheng-en’s （宋承恩） comment that Lai is sending a message through this trip that he is ready to become the president.

Italian news site Le Formiche said that Lai’s trip “underscores Taiwan’s proactive approach.”

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES