Former President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen delivered a speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on the 13th, highlighting the increasing threat of authoritarianism. She emphasized the necessity of building resilience in the face of challenges and stated that Taiwan’s existence helps restrain the expansionist ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Tsai shared the content of her speech on Facebook, expressing her delight at participating in the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and thanking everyone for their long-standing support of Taiwan, its democratic system, and the Taiwanese people. The summit’s theme this year focused on how to cooperate to safeguard freedom and democracy in a world where ally relationships are constantly changing and authoritarian cooperation is deepening.
She noted that the current geopolitical situation, defined by uncertainty and unpredictability facing existing trade and security orders, has seen many democratic countries undergo leadership changes and legislative reforms in what is termed as the “super election year.”
Tsai stressed the need for a new strategy to ensure national security and economic prosperity in the face of challenges. She reiterated that resilience is not just a buzzword but the foundation for sustainable autonomy, enabling countries to withstand shocks, adapt under pressure, and stand stronger. Taiwan’s firsthand experiences with authoritarian threats have underscored the importance of resilience in protecting elections from interference and navigating challenges like the pandemic and information manipulation.
In the past eight years, Taiwan has actively built resilience across various fields, with a focus on defense. Notably, significant investments have been made in defense, with the defense budget increasing by over 80% by the end of Tsai’s term in May 2024. Taiwan plans to continue strengthening investments based on security needs, not only in traditional weapon systems but also in asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Drawing on experiences from European counterparts, Taiwan has established a Civilian Defense Mobilization Agency, reformed reserve military training, and built societal defense resilience, aiming to maximize Taiwan’s defense self-reliance and societal response capabilities.
Enhancing digital infrastructure to combat cyber threats and collaborating with civil society to counter information manipulation are also priorities for Taiwan. Tsai highlighted the challenges posed by information warfare in the digital age and emphasized the importance of collaboration and information sharing to build defenses against infiltration.
As artificial intelligence technologies facilitate cognitive warfare transcending language and borders, tackling information warfare is becoming increasingly critical, posing serious challenges to democratic governance and cooperation. Taiwan recognizes the need to mobilize various stakeholders, including businesses, local governments, civil society organizations, and media, to strengthen domestic resilience collectively.
She underscored the importance of diversifying strategic partnerships to contribute to global security supply chains, leveraging Taiwan’s high-tech manufacturing capabilities, especially in semiconductors, which are vital for global economic prosperity.
Tsai emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, human rights, peace, and prosperity, and highlighted the importance of Taiwan’s security for regional stability and global democratic values. Taiwan stands ready to deepen cooperation with like-minded global partners in various fields of common interest.
As the global order experiences profound transformations, Tsai reiterated that democracy and resilience will be the cornerstone of our collective future. Taiwan’s experiences have proven that it can uphold democracy under authoritarian pressure, remaining open and humane even in the face of challenges.
She reaffirmed Taiwan’s dedication to promoting peace and stability and expressed willingness to share its decades of experiences and learning with the international community to protect cherished values of freedom and democracy. Tsai expressed confidence in overcoming future challenges through unity and cooperation, believing that victory is possible when working together.