The 7th Copenhagen Democracy Summit took place on the 14th, with the theme of technology, democracy, and freedom. Representatives from countries including Taiwan, Ukraine, and Kosovo were invited to participate in discussions, and the summit also featured two special sessions on the Taiwan Strait issue.
Organized by the Alliance of Democracies (AoD) in Denmark, the 7th Copenhagen Democracy Summit opened on the 14th. President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Tsai Ing-wen, and Vice President Lai Ching-te were also invited to deliver speeches online.
Chairman of the Alliance of Democracies, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark and Secretary-General of NATO, expressed in his opening speech that the global situation is challenging, with the power of authoritarian regimes growing. However, he urged people to remain optimistic and hopeful, believing that freedom and democracy will prevail.
He emphasized three priorities in the current situation: ensuring Ukraine wins the war, assisting in deterring conflicts in Taiwan, and standing with all people around the world who aspire to determine their own futures.
Rasmussen stated that the war in Ukraine is not just a Ukrainian issue but a collective struggle representing all those who seek to determine their own futures. He emphasized that the people of Taiwan can relate to this struggle the most.
He also noted that while the international community can celebrate Taiwan’s democratic achievements, a united front must be shown in the face of provocations from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to make it clear that any attack on Taiwan will trigger a strong response from the democratic world.
Former White House Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger, speaking at a roundtable, mentioned that to prevent conflicts in the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial to understand that the cost of deterring conflict is much lower than engaging in war. He pointed out that democratic countries have not done enough in terms of deterring works, leading to the repetition of armed conflicts.
Pottinger suggested that besides Taiwan, Japan should also send a more clear and stronger message of support for the Taiwan-U.S. alliance. He highlighted the importance of having enough deterrence capabilities in terms of economic and diplomatic power.
He further elaborated that Xi Jinping is closely monitoring the willingness of democratic countries to engage in conflicts and assessing their military strength, determining whether wars would be quick or prolonged. Therefore, it is necessary for democratic nations to demonstrate their long-term capability and willingness to resist, or else it may embolden Xi Jinping and other dictators to initiate conflicts.
Pottinger emphasized that higher willingness and capacity to engage in conflicts make it easier to avoid wars, which many democratic societies have yet to fully grasp.
Given the different geographical conditions compared to Ukraine, Pottinger believed that Taiwan does not need to adopt the exact strategy as Ukraine. He suggested that Taiwan could start developing its civilian-military culture and learn from countries around the Baltic Sea, Finland, and Israel to cultivate reserve forces that can be quickly mobilized, discouraging reckless actions by the Chinese military.
He recommended that in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan, democratic countries should unite and collectively acknowledge Taiwan’s independent status, as China’s attack on Taiwan would essentially recognize Taiwan as a separate country. He viewed this as a form of deterrence, acknowledging Taiwan’s status before a real conflict erupts.
Pottinger noted that during his tenure, U.S. President Joe Biden has publicly stated on four occasions that if China attacks Taiwan, the U.S. military will intervene to assist Taiwan, making it the clearest stance of any U.S. president. Even if Trump were to return to office, U.S. policy towards China would not regress significantly.