Taiwan: Our shared values with Nigeria –Liu, Head of Mission

By Our ReporterMr. Andy Yih-Ping Liu, Chief of Mission of Taiwan in Nigeria, recently shared insights on Taiwan-Nigeria relations, Taiwan’s independence from China and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in education, trade and investment.Excerpts: googletag.

cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0'); }); My Stay in Nigeria“I am very familiar with Nigeria, as this is my eighth year in the country.



My first experience was between 1993 and 1998, when I lived in Calabar, Cross River State. That period was during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida and later the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan. I eventually left during the era of General Sani Abacha, in late 1999.

“After nearly three decades away, I returned four and a half years ago to serve as the Head of Mission for the Taiwanese Government in Nigeria. This role has allowed me to reconnect with the country and strengthen the relationship between our two nations. $(document).

ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Taiwan is not part of China“As the Head of Mission, I must clarify that Taiwan and China are two separate entities.

Taiwan is not part of China. We represent only the government and people of Taiwan. The Chinese Embassy cannot speak or act on our behalf.

“Many Nigerian business leaders have approached the Chinese Embassy for a visa to Taiwan, only to be told they cannot issue one. This often leads to the question, if China cannot issue a visa to Taiwan, how can it claim Taiwan is part of its territory?“Our mission in Nigeria has been operational since 1991. We function as an independent entity, just like any other country’s diplomatic mission.

The Chinese Government continues to claim Taiwan as its territory, but that is not our reality. We have our own government, our own economy and our own international partnerships. Taiwan has no interest in China’s internal affairs and seeks peaceful cooperation with the rest of the world.

Shared values between Nigeria and TaiwanTaiwan and Nigeria share several democratic values. First, both countries operate under constitutional democracies. In Nigeria, the President is elected and serves a maximum of two terms.

Taiwan follows the same rule, no matter how popular a politician is, they must step down after two terms. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); “Second, Nigeria has a vibrant and free press. In fact, you lead Africa in terms of press freedom, and that’s something I greatly admire.

Taiwan enjoys the same media freedom. In contrast to China, where social media platforms like Google are blocked and the press is tightly controlled, Taiwan is a model for freedom of expression in Asia.“Third, both countries have free-market economies.

While Nigeria is rich in natural resources and has a large population of over 200 million, Taiwan is a small island with a population of just 23 million and very limited natural resources. Taiwan is probably only five times larger than Lagos State. However, we have built a strong economy based on education and innovation.

“Over the past 50 years, we’ve heavily invested in education, generation after generation. Today, our literacy rate is over 98 percent, which has enabled us to thrive in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence. Taiwanese companies produce some of the most critical semiconductors and microchips in the world, key components for global innovation.

“Our message to Nigeria is clear: If Taiwan, with limited resources, can achieve success through education and innovation, any state in Nigeria can do the same, especially since you have abundant natural resources.How Taiwan can support Nigeria’s vision“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu once said during his 2022 campaign that he hoped to transform Nigeria’s South East into “the Taiwan of Africa.” This is a powerful vision and one that Taiwan is eager to support.

We are ready to partner with Nigeria to make that dream a reality, independent of any influence from China. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Towards a new investment agreement“Over the last two years, during both the previous and current Nigerian administrations, I have written proposals and met with key ministers to advocate the renewal of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) between our two nations. The original agreement, signed in 1994, is now outdated.

“Both governments have agreed that a new version is needed. Negotiations have been concluded, and we are now waiting for the final signatures. This agreement is vital, as it will give Taiwanese investors confidence in the Nigerian business environment and encourage more collaboration between our private sectors.

A model for bilateral cooperatOur shared values with Nigeriaion“Nigeria could benefit from adopting the Taiwan-Australia model of cooperation, which has been successful over the past 20 years. Taiwan and Australia hold annual bilateral discussions in key sectors, agriculture, minerals and energy, all of which are areas where Nigeria also has great potential.“Unlike other countries, Taiwan respects national sovereignty.

We do not engage in illegal mining or exploit local resources. Instead, we pursue legal, transparent trade practices. In fact, the World Trade Organization (WTO), has ranked Taiwan among the top 20 trading economies globally.

We deal fairly, and we always pay market prices for what we need. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); “In recent weeks, one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies reached out to us for assistance in identifying illegal immigrants involved in cybercrime and other illegal activities. None of them were from Taiwan.

This demonstrates our commitment to lawful conduct and ethical business practices.“Once the new IPPA is signed, it will send a strong message that the Nigerian Government is serious about protecting foreign investments and fostering a trustworthy business environment for Taiwanese companies.Engaging the United States through dialogue“On the global stage, Taiwan continues to engage peacefully with all countries.

Recently, our President, Mr. Lai Ching-te, made it clear that Taiwan does not seek retaliation in response to potential tariffs from the United States. Instead, we prefer dialogue.

A Taiwanese delegation will soon visit the U.S. to hold practical, constructive negotiations.

“Taiwan is not interested in creating enemies. Apart from our longstanding political tensions with China, we maintain friendly relations with countries around the world. We consider Nigeria a valued development partner and we are committed to building strong, mutually beneficial ties.

“Taiwan and Nigeria have much to gain from closer cooperation. We share democratic values, economic potential, and a vision for innovation-driven development. With the right agreements and mutual respect, our partnership can be a model for international diplomacy in the 21st century.

Taiwan stands ready to support Nigeria’s aspirations, with goodwill, transparency, and genuine friendship. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

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