Jiang Qichen Leads Cross‑Party Delegation to Japan, Calls for Stronger Supply Chain Cooperation

Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen led a cross-party parliamentary delegation to Japan today to attend the opening ceremony of the 54th General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU). In an important address delivered during the meeting, Chiang pointed out that the world is currently facing the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside frequent regional geopolitical conflicts, changes that profoundly affect the stability and security of global supply chains. He emphasized that against this backdrop, no single country can face the overwhelming array of challenges alone; rather, continuously deepening substantive cross-border cooperation is the inevitable path to ensuring regional stability and prosperity. He also expressed hope that the APPU will continue to play a pivotal role and serve as a enduring force in promoting regional peace and cooperation.

The Taiwan delegation was personally led by Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen, with members comprising cross-party lawmakers, demonstrating Taiwan's united, non-partisan stance of presenting a common front in diplomacy and parliamentary exchanges. The APPU has long served as an important platform for parliamentarians across the Asia-Pacific region to engage in multilateral dialogue and build regional consensus. By participating in the annual meetings of such international organizations, Taiwan's parliamentary representatives are able to directly connect with dignitaries and elected representatives from Asia-Pacific nations. This not only helps maintain and consolidate Taiwan's participation space in regional multilateral organizations, but also enables representatives to exchange views with counterparts from various countries on issues of common concern in the Asia-Pacific, such as economic and trade security, public health and medical care, and supply chain resilience, thereby seeking understanding and support from like-minded nations.

Chiang specifically highlighted the severe tests facing global supply chains during the meeting, noting that this is not merely an economic issue, but one that directly concerns national security and regional stability. In recent years, from port congestion and production disruptions triggered by the outbreak of the global pandemic, to energy and raw material crises caused by intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition and regional conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, all have demonstrated the high degree of interdependence in modern industrial supply chains. As a core hub of the global high-tech industry and semiconductor supply chain, Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the operation of the global economy. Taking advantage of this international conference, Chiang conveyed Taiwan's firm willingness to actively participate in the regional economic security network and work with other countries to build more resilient supply chains, highlighting Taiwan's critical value in the international community.

Faced with a complex and volatile international situation, although Taiwan faces numerous practical limitations and suppression in formal diplomatic recognition, parliamentary diplomacy and participation in multilateral international organizations can often transcend the framework of official diplomacy, exerting a high degree of flexibility and substantive effectiveness. The APPU general assembly provides an equal platform for dialogue, allowing Taiwan's parliamentary representatives to directly explain Taiwan's policy stances and the challenges it faces to their peers in the Asia-Pacific region. Chiang's emphasis that nations cannot face challenges alone actually echoes the concepts of "collective security" and "partnership" currently promoted by the international community. Only through joint defense, information sharing, and policy coordination among countries within the region can the impact of transnational crises be effectively resisted.

Looking ahead, as Taiwan navigates a treacherous and changing international political and economic environment, the deepening and diversification of parliamentary diplomacy will be an indispensable component. The attendance of the cross-party Legislative Yuan delegation at the APPU general assembly in Japan is not only a routine international parliamentary exchange, but also practically demonstrates to the international community Taiwan's proactive attitude of not being absent from regional cooperation. Just as Chiang anticipated, through enduring dialogue mechanisms like the APPU, Taiwan will continue to forge close connections with like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific region to jointly promote regional peace, stability, and sustainable prosperity, while striving for broader international survival and development space for Taiwan.