Former President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, has accepted an invitation from the Czech Republic’s “Forum 2000 Foundation” and is set to visit the country on the 12th of this month. In addition to the Czech Republic, Tsai’s European tour will also include visits to two other European countries. Experts believe that Tsai’s visit to Europe as a former head of state will help Taiwan expand its international presence.
Tsai Ing-wen’s office released a press statement on the 7th, announcing that at the invitation of the “Forum 2000 Foundation” in the Czech Republic, the former president will travel to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, this weekend to attend the forum and deliver a speech. Before the trip, Tsai also met with President Lai Ching-te on the 6th at the Presidential Office, where she conveyed blessings from President Lai and the people of Taiwan to international allies like the Czech Republic, expressing hopes for joint efforts to strengthen democratic resilience.
According to Tsai Ing-wen’s office, Taiwan and the Czech Republic share a similar democratic history, having successfully fought against authoritarian regimes to establish free and democratic societies with the support of brave predecessors. Besides being close partners in economic, trade, and cultural cooperation, Taiwan and the Czech Republic are united in defending shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
“Through this visit, former President Tsai will share Taiwan’s experiences in promoting democracy and prosperity, hoping that like-minded forces in the international community can come together to address current serious international political and economic challenges. President Tsai will also express gratitude to the Czech Republic and the ‘Forum 2000 Foundation’ for their steadfast support of Taiwan’s democracy,” Tsai Ing-wen’s office stated.
Political commentator Chen Yi-shen, in an interview with Epoch Times, expressed optimism about former President Tsai Ing-wen’s inaugural post-presidential visit to Europe. He emphasized the significance of the Czech Republic as the first stop on the European tour, given its own history of Communist persecution, which may foster a high degree of sympathy and understanding towards Taiwan’s situation. Chen Yi-shen believes that the relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic will continue to strengthen, building the possibility of further cooperation.
Chen Yi-shen noted that Tsai’s visit to Europe is expected to promote Taiwan’s democratic values against the authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party, enhancing Taiwan’s international visibility. This visit, starting with the Czech Republic as the first stop and potentially expanding to countries in Eastern Europe such as Hungary, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia, holds the potential to shape a diplomatic landscape where more European countries would extend friendly ties to Taiwan.
Tsai’s status as a former head of state grants her more flexibility and less pressure from unreasonable actions by the Chinese Communist Party, thereby fostering closer Taiwan-Europe relations and contributing to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, recently emphasized the EU’s direct interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, rejecting any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo using force or coercion.
Chen Yi-shen highlighted Taiwan’s unique values, such as being an ally of the democratic camp and its role as the source of 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor chip production. Taiwan’s willingness to assist European countries in economic development, as evidenced by a visit by a Taiwanese delegation led by the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, David Tawei Lee, and the Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan, Ming-hsin Kung, to the Czech Republic in late August to promote semiconductor supply chain cooperation, aims to develop the Czech Republic into a vital semiconductor hub in Europe within the next 3 to 5 years.
Taiwanese legislator Chen Guan-ting, in a social media post today, acknowledged President Tsai Ing-wen’s forthcoming 8-day European tour starting on the 12th, describing it as a demonstration of Taiwan’s mature democratic system and a continuation of the essential policy of deepening Taiwan-Europe relations.
Chen noted that Tsai’s visit holds multiple significances. Firstly, it signifies a continuity in Taiwan’s commitment to enhancing relations with Europe during Tsai’s tenure, highlighting Taiwan’s consistent emphasis on maintaining friendly relations with European countries despite leadership changes. Secondly, the coordination between former and current leaders in diplomatic engagements showcases Taiwan’s democratic maturity and continuity, projecting a positive image of Taiwan’s peaceful transfer of power to the international community. Experts, including Yang Yayu, Director of the European Values Security Policy Research Center in the Czech Republic, have also expressed a welcoming attitude.
Given that Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic relations with most European countries, Tsai Ing-wen’s visit in a non-presidential capacity may offer more flexibility to advance substantive exchanges in various fields. Against the backdrop of intensifying US-China competition, this trip aims to strengthen Taiwan’s importance in the Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly as European countries increasingly focus on the region’s developments.
Chen emphasized that Tsai’s visit underscores the flexibility and continuity of Taiwan’s foreign policy, believing it will have a positive impact on Taiwan-Europe relations. This visit not only fosters friendly relations between Taiwan and Europe but also showcases Taiwan’s democratic maturity, further elevating Taiwan’s international standing.
Three sources informed Reuters that Tsai Ing-wen’s first stop will be in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, where she will speak at the “Forum 2000” conference starting on October 13th. During her time in the Czech Republic, Tsai will meet with high-level politicians from the Czech Republic and other European countries. Tsai will also visit two more European countries, though the specifics of her itinerary have not been disclosed.
Tsai Ing-wen’s office noted that the “Forum 2000 Foundation” was founded in 1996 by former Czech President Václav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa with the aim of promoting democracy, protecting human rights, and strengthening civil society.
Tsai Ing-wen, during her tenure as Chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council in 2004, was invited to attend the “8th Forum 2000” conference in the Czech Republic. Throughout her presidency, Tsai delivered video speeches at the conference thrice. The upcoming conference will focus on “demonstrating the determination and resilience of democracy,” addressing global challenges such as the collapsing global order, fragile democracies, democracy and technology, the Ukraine forum, and other pivotal areas of concern.