Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, visited Poland on Monday, September 29th, and emphasized the need for Europe to stand with Taiwan in the face of common threats from authoritarian neighboring countries. He expressed the importance of forming a united front with democratic countries in Europe.
Despite continuous opposition from China, Taiwan has been gaining more sympathy and attention in Europe, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In his speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, Minister Joseph Wu stressed the inseparable link between economic security and national security. He pointed out that authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have formed a subversive axis challenging the rules-based international order, with China largely seen as a decisive force behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Minister Joseph Wu further highlighted the similarities between Europe facing threats from Russia’s hybrid warfare and Taiwan confronting threats from China, including cyber attacks and military exercises.
He urged Europe to stand with Taiwan to establish a strong alliance based on shared values and to halt the expansion of authoritarian regimes. Taiwan is ready to cooperate with Europe in this regard.
This marks Joseph Wu’s second visit to Europe this month, having previously visited Prague, Rome, and Vienna. His European tour has provoked China, especially his visit to Austria coinciding closely with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the country just a week prior.
Regarding economic cooperation, Joseph Wu mentioned the importance of Europe welcoming more semiconductor companies from Taiwan and highlighted Taiwan’s major chip manufacturer, TSMC, and its investments in Germany.
He emphasized that through such economic interactions, Taiwan and Europe can create a strong synergistic effect, fostering a resilient and diversified technology ecosystem and contributing to Europe’s strategic reindustrialization, which is crucial for the continent’s rearmament.
The focus of Joseph Wu’s current visit to Europe is to combine Taiwan’s technological expertise with its “value diplomacy.” His speech at the forum is centered on the “Reinvention of Global Democratic Supply Chain,” aiming to jointly establish a technology ecosystem free from authoritarian influence with Europe.
Furthermore, before attending the forum, Joseph Wu witnessed the signing of a humanitarian assistance agreement between Taiwan and Ukraine in Warsaw, providing support to children affected by the Russian invasion. This action reinforces Taiwan’s shared stance and concrete actions in resisting authoritarian threats.