Han Kuo-yu hosts Oceania Taiwanese business leaders and urges putting Taiwan first

Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu personally hosted a luncheon at the Legislative Yuan today to welcome the visiting delegation of the Federation of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Oceania. This luncheon, blending diplomacy with overseas compatriot affairs, not only demonstrated the high regard the head of the parliament holds for overseas Taiwanese businesspeople, but also featured a core appeal raised by Han during his speech: "No blue, white, or green in our eyes, only Taiwanese sentiment in our hearts." He called upon Taiwanese compatriots residing in Oceania, while striving abroad, to unite and place Taiwan's interests and compatriot camaraderie ahead of domestic partisan struggles, emphasizing that politics is merely temporary, whereas bloodlines and compatriot bonds are permanent. These remarks quickly resonated with the attending businesspeople.

The Federation of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Oceania organized this trip back to Taiwan to strengthen economic and trade ties between Taiwanese businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding island nations in the Oceania region and Taiwan, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the domestic political and economic situation and policy directions. For a long time, overseas Taiwanese businesspeople have deeply cultivated roots around the world, serving not only as vital promoters of Taiwan's economic reach into international markets, but also as the front line of people-to-people diplomacy and private economic and trade exchanges. As the nation's highest legislative body, receiving overseas compatriot leaders from across the Pacific demonstrates cross-party parliamentary diplomatic capacity and highlights the government's reliance on the global Taiwanese business network.

During the banquet, Han extended a sincere welcome and gratitude to the businesspeople who had traveled from afar. He pointed out that Taiwanese chambers of commerce started from scratch overseas, establishing a foothold in Oceania in the Southern Hemisphere through resilient vitality and a strong work ethic, which in itself is a remarkable achievement. He further encouraged all overseas businesspeople that, when facing a rigorous international economic and trade environment and complex geopolitical challenges, the expatriate community should act like family, loving and helping one another. Such warm remarks not only comforted the overseas travelers for the hardships of fighting abroad, but also helped unite the cohesion of the overseas Chinese community.

Notably, Han specifically touched upon the sensitive domestic political ecosystem during his speech, telling the businesspeople that he hopes everyone views Taiwan with "no blue, white, or green in our eyes, only Taiwanese sentiment in our hearts." Although Taiwan's domestic democratic politics is vibrant, it is sometimes accompanied by fierce partisan competition and division. Han used this to remind and emotionally appeal that political turmoil and ideological opposition are temporary, and only the compatriot camaraderie on this land of Taiwan is permanent. This trans-partisan speech not only echoed the long-standing aspiration of many overseas compatriots for domestic unity and reduced internal friction in Taiwan, but also demonstrated the stature and vision of the Legislative Yuan President in receiving foreign guests and compatriots.

Members of the Federation of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Oceania expressed their gratitude for the warm reception by the Legislative Yuan and exchanged views with the Legislative Yuan President on the opportunities and challenges faced by Taiwanese businesses developing abroad. As the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region continues to grow, the political and economic dynamics of Oceania nations also affect Taiwan's diplomatic layout, with Taiwanese businesspeople playing an indispensable role as unofficial ambassadors. Through this parliamentary banquet and in-depth exchange, not only has the substantive interaction between the Legislative Yuan and the Oceania expatriate community been strengthened, but the strategic importance of uniting domestic and international forces and deepening the global Taiwanese business network in the face of external pressure has been highlighted once again.