delegation of French senators led by Alain Richard, head of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, will be visiting Taiwan later this week, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday.
However, MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (???) did not provide more details of the itinerary of the delegation, including when it will arrive, saying only that the ministry is currently making proper arrangements and will announce more details in due time.
According to Ou, the delegation will be visiting Taiwan under a so-called “diplomatic bubble” that will exempt them from undergoing certain COVID-19 prevention and quarantine measures. Ou did not elaborate further.
Under normal circumstances, all arrivals to Taiwan are required to go into quarantine for 14 days.
Online French media outlet La Lettre A previously said the delegation was scheduled to visit Taiwan from Oct. 4 to 11.
Other members of the delegation will include Max Brisson and André Vallini, both vice presidents of the friendship group, as well as Olivier Cadic, the group’s secretary, it added.
Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (???) said the Legislative Yuan is scheduled to host the French delegation on Oct. 8.
According to MOFA, Richard had wanted to visit Taiwan as early as this March.
China expressed opposition to that trip in February in a letter sent by China’s ambassador to France Lu Shaye (???) to Richard that the French saw as Chinese interference in its institutions.
Calling Richard a long-term supporter of Taiwan, MOFA said the former French defense minister from 1997 to 2002 has twice visited the country in 2015 and 2018.
A promoter of Taiwan-France exchanges, Richard is also the initiator of a resolution adopted by the French Senate this May in support of Taiwan’s international participation, MOFA said.
In an interview with CNA in late March, Richard said the main purpose of the visit would be to see how Taiwan has dealt with COVID-19 and the economic strides it has made as well as discuss France and Taiwan’s regional and global strategies.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel