Taiwan took center stage in the Senate as both sides of the aisle came together in a rare show of unity. Government Senator Eamon Courtenay and Opposition Senator Patrick Faber delivered strong statements in support of Taiwan’s right to self-determination and Belize’s long-standing friendship with the island nation. Courtenay called on China to adopt a more mature and enlightened approach, urging an end to threats and pressure against Taiwan. Meanwhile, Faber echoed that support, highlighting Belize and Taiwan’s thirty-six-year diplomatic relationship built on shared values like democracy, human rights, and mutual respect. It was a powerful moment of bipartisan solidarity on the international stage.
Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business
“We call on the People’s Republic of China to have a more mature and a more enlightened posture with respect to Taiwan. Simply put, the people of Taiwan have a right to self-determination. They have a right to determine their future, they have a right to determine that they wish to exist as a country, separate from the People’s Republic of China. And we call on the People’s Republic of China to desist from the threats and the use of force, and the threats of the use of force in relation to Taiwan and, in fact, to remove its obstacle to Taiwan fully participating in the international organizations of which Belize is a member.”
Patrick Faber, Lead Opposition Senator
“I rise on behalf of the opposition to give my full and unwavering support to this important motion, a resolution that affirms Belize’s commitment to democracy, freedom and the unbreakable bond of friendship with the people and government of Taiwan. Belize and Taiwan have shared thirty-six years if strong and meaningful diplomatic ties, but more than that, we have shared a partnership built on mutual respect and shared values, the belief in human rights, self-determination and democratic government. These are not abstract ideals, they are principles that shape our daily lives and strengthen the foundation of our nation.”