Fri da y, February 1 , 201 9

Headline long -standing friendship is sincerely President Tsai Ing -wen recently sent appreciated, the ministry added. a letter to Pope Francis in response MOFA thanks EU for sup- to his message for the 52 nd World porting Taiwan International Day of Peace, supporting his call for On January 31, the Ministry of For- MOFA welcomed US Sen- good politics in the service of peace eign Affairs (MOFA) welcomed the ate bill backing WHO o b- and renewed commitment to unive r- support for Taiwan and the server status for Taiwan sal human virtues, the common good and youth cultivation. cross-strait status quo by the execu- On January 30, the Ministry of For- In his message, the pope cites the tive and legislative branches of the eign Affairs welcomed a bipartisan European Union (EU). U.S. Senate bill calling for the rei n- writings of the late Vietnamese Ca r- dinal Francois -Xavier Nguyen Van statement of Taiwan’s o bserver sta- Thuan, who was persecuted and tus in the W orld Health Organization. Unveiled after the unanimous pa s- imprisoned without trial for 13 years for his religious beliefs. sage of similar legislation by the U.S. According to Tsai, the courage and House of Representatives earlier in the month, the proposed law repr e- dedication of Van Thuan are an i n- spiration around the world. “His ex- sents further bipartisan support from During a European Parliament (EP) perience has given tremendous spi r- plenary debate on the latest the U.S. legislative branch for Ta i- wan’s internati onal participation, itual encouragement to the people of cross-strait developments on Janu- Taiwan, as it resonates with our MOFA said, adding that this unw a- ary 30, EU Commissioner for Hu- country’s predicament and the belief manitarian Aid and Crisis Manage- vering backing is appreciated by the government and people. we have maintained in freedom and ment Christos Stylianides said that demo cracy.” According to MOFA, it will closely the EU and Taiwan are like-minded This year marks the 77 th anniversary and the EU has always engaged with follow the bill’s progress in the U.S. Congress and continue working to of diplomatic ties between Taiwan Taiwan on a broad range of issues and the Holy See, with the two sides secure an invitation for Taiwan to and encouraged it to be an active continuing to cooperate in advancing player in international affairs. at tend the World Health Assembly, the decisi on-making body of WHO, in human development on the basis of According to Stylianides, the EU has the guiding principles of the Catholic May. a strong interest in peace and secu- Church. rity in Asia and believes Taiwan and Jointly introduced by Senators Jim China should engage constructively Inhofe and , co -chairs Culture of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, the bill and restart dialogue. The EU sup- Kaohsiung’s world -class ports all initiatives aimed at promot- directs the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observe r Weiwuying arts center ing cooperation and confi- profiled by NY Times dence-building between the two status for Taiwan in the WHO. The sides, he said. legisla tion was also sponsored by On January 29, the New York Times Around 20 members of the EP also Senators , Sherrod published an article on the National spoke up for Taiwan during the de- Brown, , , Kaohsiung Center for the Arts bate. Among these, Member of Eu- , , E d- (NKCA) , also known as Weiwuying, ropean Parliament (MEP) Werner ward Markey and Marco Rubio. which has raised the cultural prestige Langen, chairman of the EP-Taiwan Senator Inhofe said Taiwan has of the Taiwan ese city and given local Friendship Group, urged the EU to demo nstrated its commitment to people a community -friendly space. stand up to Chinese efforts to ex- world health and earned a seat in all Headlined “In Taiwan, an Invitation to clude Taiwan from international trea- inte rnational bodies, especially those a ‘Living Room’ for Culture,” the re- ties and negotiations. where it has shown substantial lea d- port said the US $348 million facility Echoing President Tsai Ing-wen’s ership. is popular with locals who use public requirements for the positive devel- Senator Menendez said “The U.S. areas for dance classes, practicing opment of cross-strait ties, MEP must support Taiwan’s standin g in yoga and watching the sunset. As the Laima Liucija Andrikiene said the the international community and world’s largest performing arts center stand by our friends in Tai wan.” under one roof, NKCA has become a wish and rights of the Taiwan people to freedom and democracy must be new venue for world -renowned acts respected. President Tsai supports in Kaohsiung, the article added. According to the MOFA, the plenary call for vi rtuous politics in Designed by Dutch architect Fra n- debate reflects the importance the pope’s World Day of Peace cine Houben, the NKCA houses EU attaches to cross-strait relations. me ssage Asia’s biggest organ with 9,085 pipes, The European Union’s firm and as well as an outdoor theater on the roof.

Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium Website: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11