Austrian Lawmakers Urge Stronger Defense Spending During Taipei Visit

TAIPEI — Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) met Wednesday with a visiting Austrian parliamentary delegation, led by Werner Amon, chair of the Austria-Taiwan Friendship Group, in a meeting that underscored both nations’ shared democratic values and the growing urgency of defense preparedness in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.

Amon, joined by lawmakers from multiple Austrian parties, warned that authoritarian regimes have become “increasingly unpredictable,” stressing that Taiwan’s proximity to the People’s Republic of China makes robust defense budgets essential for deterrence. His remarks came as European democracies continue to recalibrate security policies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and escalating tensions across the Indo-Pacific.

Han, accompanied by legislators Wan Mei-ling (萬美玲) of the Kuomintang (KMT), Kuo Yu-ching (郭昱晴) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Mai Yu-chen (麥玉珍) of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), and Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺), welcomed the delegation in Taipei’s Legislative Yuan. Calling Amon a “longtime friend” on his ninth visit to the island, Han said he hoped first-time visitors would “feel the warmth and resilience of the Taiwanese people.”

While defense cooperation and security concerns framed much of the discussion, economic ties also took center stage. Han noted that Austria ranks as Taiwan’s 10th-largest trading partner in Europe, a figure he described as “modest” given the nations’ potential for deeper collaboration. He pointed to semiconductors as a key growth area, but also highlighted opportunities in traditional industries such as textiles, bicycles, and sporting goods.

Amon echoed the call for stronger trade, cultural, and educational partnerships, saying that a long-discussed reciprocal driver’s license agreement could be finalized by the end of the year. He added that democracy, the rule of law, and human rights form the bedrock of Taiwan-Austria relations, emphasizing the need for “cooperation among like-minded nations” in countering global authoritarian threats.

The visit reflects a broader pattern of engagement between Taiwan and European lawmakers, many of whom have grown more vocal in supporting Taipei’s international participation and self-defense capabilities. As geopolitical fault lines deepen, analysts say parliamentary diplomacy — once symbolic — is taking on heightened strategic importancein signaling democratic solidarity.