Ambassador Bob L. J. CHEN's speech at a press conference “Taiwan stands with Ukraine: helping Ukraine in time of war” on June 1, 2023

"Distinguished participants, dear friends and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen: Good morning!

On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it’s a great honor for me to participate in today’s press conference on the results of a trilateral cooperation project to provide nearly 100 tons of humanitarian winter supplies earlier this year to our Ukrainian friends who have been severely affected by Russia’s unjustifiable invasion. Although regrettably I cannot join you in person in Lviv today to show our support for Ukraine, our hearts are with you, and our thoughts and prayers are with all our Ukrainian friends for your safety and eventual victory.

Although Taiwan is far away from Ukraine geographically, people of Taiwan deeply empathize and sympathize with what our Ukrainian friends have been encountering due to Russia’s aggression. I wish to take this opportunity to assure our Ukrainian friends that Taiwan stands in solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainian people based on our shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights, and will continue to support Ukraine and Ukrainian people wholeheartedly. 

Ukrainian people have been inspiring to the people of Taiwan because Taiwan has also encountered the threats of authoritarian expansionist ambitions over the years.  Your bravery and your solidarity in fighting against aggressors is most admirable.  It’s our firm belief that Ukrainian people are fighting not only for your own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also for the rules-based international order and our shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights.  Aggressors must be defeated in order to prevent the recurrence of similar atrocities in the future, and peace and stability of Ukraine must be restored as early as possible.

Since the Russo-Ukrainian war broke out last year, Taiwan so far has committed more than 41 million USD and 700 tons of relief and medical supplies in assisting Ukrainian people through both bilateral and multilateral channels.  The most recent example is the delivery of nearly 100 tons of winter supplies to our Ukrainian friends in 85 local communities in Ukraine.  I am so grateful that through our collective effort, those winter supplies, together with love and care of the people of Taiwan, could be delivered to our Ukrainian friends in a timely manner so that they would not feel alone in the bitterly cold winter.  I was deeply touched when I saw the photos and videos shared by our Ukrainian partners.  On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, I wish to express our most profound appreciation to our Ukrainian and Polish partner organizations, including the Network for the Protection of National Interests (ANTS), Forest Initiatives and Society (ForestCom) and Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM).  Our thanks also go to numerous other Ukrainian NGOs, local administrations and brave individual volunteers for their timely, efficient and professional cooperation.  I look forward to closer cooperation with all those partners in the future.

I also wish to share with you that Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has earmarked a budget to assist Ukraine with its reconstruction and recovery projects, including hospitals, schools, churches and infrastructure etc.  Please rest assured that Taiwan will do its utmost and continue to work closely with both Ukrainian and international partners to help Ukraine “build back better.”

On 14 November last year, I accompanied three family members of a brave Taiwanese volunteer soldier, Jonathan Tseng, to Lviv to attend Jonathan’s funeral service.  Jonathan sacrificed his life last year when he helped Ukraine defend its freedom.  I was deeply moved when I saw many Ukrainian friends gathering voluntarily along the streets of Lviv in spite of the cold weather to pay last tribute to Jonathan.  Jonathan is an example of the support of Taiwanese people for Ukraine.  In fact, numerous people in Taiwan have been supporting Ukraine through different means, including: making donations, joining parades, holding charitable events and concerts, and providing free clinics in Ukraine etc.  I wish to re-assure our Ukrainian friends that Taiwan is a reliable democratic partner and you are not alone.  The people of Taiwan will continue to join hands with other democracies to support and stand in solidarity with Ukraine until Ukrainian people win the war and rebuild a peaceful, stronger and more prosperous Ukraine.  

“Bazhayu Peremohy Ukraiini!” “Slava Ukraini!”  

Thank you very much".

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More about the project of humanitarian aid to Ukraine:

Taiwan transferred 100 tons of humanitarian to Ukraine