I was transferred from Negara Brunei Darussalam, an Islamic Sultanate in Southeast Asia, to Riga as the Representative of the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia (Republic of China, Taiwan), also accredited to Estonia, on 15 March. This is my first diplomatic post in the European continent, despite serving in London from 2008 to 2014. It is my great pleasure to welcome you in Riga in my capacity as the Head of the Mission. I genuinely appreciate your interest and support of my Office as well as Taiwan’s ties with Latvia and Estonia over the past years. Your understanding and continued support is absolutely essential and critical in our future endeavors.
The Republic of China(Taiwan) has enjoyed a warm relationship with the Republic of Latvia since we established diplomatic relations at Consulate General level in 1992. However, the ties did not start from the year of 1992. Instead, they are rooted in our proud and similar history of fight for independence and national sovereignty, and belief in democracy and human rights, dated back to January 1919 when the Paris Peace Conference was convened as soon as Latvia and Estonia declared their independence in late 1918.
In 1921, the three Baltic States Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were accepted by the League of Nations. At the second Plenary Session of the League that started in September 1921, thirty-six nations voted in favor of the three States’ membership, with the Republic of China among them as a founding member. In the ensuing years, a series of intensive dialogues and negotiations were conducted between the Republic of China and Latvia and Estonia, resulting in the establishment of diplomatic relations respectively in 1936 and 1937, followed by the signing of the Treaty of Amity. By doing so, the Republic of China was one of the few countries officially recognizing Latvia and Estonia as a sovereign and independent state before occupation of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, respectively in 1940 and 1941.
These historical facts fully indicate that our government staunchly supported the participation of the Baltic States in the international community as an equal partner. More importantly the official bonds were subsequently forged in 1930s, and since then we had supported Latvia and Estonia as a sovereign state based on the fundamental principles of sovereignty, independence, non-interference and unity. Today, our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship continues to grow through shared belief, mutual understanding, respect and various areas of common interest such as trade, economic cooperation, culture, education, science and technology, between Taiwan, Latvia and Estonia, with freedom and democracy as core and underlying elements.
Both Estonia and Latvia are internationally recognized state of dynamic parliamentary democracy. The road to where they are today has been full of twists and turns. The stories of past two centuries are deeply touching and enlightening, and can be summed up as a fascinating and frequently tragic tale of the creation of a nation. The territories of Latvia and Estonia are not only old, intriguing and diversified as a people, an ethnic cultural heritage and hidden treasure in civilization, but today they are also young, dynamic and respectable as a nation and a democracy.
Despite vast geographic distance of Taiwan towards Latvia and Estonia, they all share a lot in common as a vibrant and full-fledged democracy, especially with what we have been through and what we have been fighting for down the road. Latvia, Estonia and Taiwan are pursuing exactly the same goal of promoting democracy and safeguarding sovereignty, despite the difference in people, language, culture, and the way of life. We should be united in a collective conviction that the suffering can be forgiven, but the lessons of history, written in blood and tears, must never be forgotten, nor relived.
We are committed to working together, along with other freedom-loving nations, in manifesting the values of freedom and democracy, human rights and prosperity for every human being. In this connection, immediately after Russia’s aggression of Ukraine, Taiwan joined the international community to condemn such unjust and illegal invasion, and provided humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians in need, including some 50 tonnes of supplies and medical items as well as donations in cash from the general public. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced on 1 April an additional funding from the people of Taiwan to support displaced Ukrainians by contributing US$1 million each for Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, on top of the first batch of US$15 million to Poland, Hungary and other countries in Europe.
As a diplomat representing Taiwan, I have my sincere respect and heartfelt admiration for Latvia and Estonia. An empathetic understanding of the long and frequently tragic history of Latvia and Estonia, and of the people’s struggle to create a nation with its own language, literature, way of life and finally its own parliament and government, which will certainly increase my understanding and appreciation of their achievements and their unsung charms and untold stories. To me, Taiwan, Estonia and Latvia are akin to a reborn phoenix rising from the ashes, and embracing the challenges and aiming for a brighter future. I am utterly pleased and honored to work in Riga and Tallinn. I am looking forward to working closely with friends across sectors in the countries, and fully committed to performing my duties as a promoter and facilitator, to further deepening our people-to-people links and cross-cultural understanding, strengthen bilateral relations between Taiwan and Latvia and Estonia for the years to come.
Not only is Taiwan committed to working with like-minded countries in European Union, including Latvia and Estonia and other member countries, but also in promoting trade, economic cooperation and prosperity. The international rules-based order and ongoing international cooperation will be crucial to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that we work together to manage the health and economic impacts, support economic recovery and enhance the resilience of supply chains.
In addition, I will be working to deepen my understanding and appreciation of the diversity and strength of Latvia and Estonia as I forge connections with the Governments and wonderful peoples of the two states.
Thank you! Paldies!
Andrew H.C. Lee
