Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chih-chung Wu called for an expanded Taiwan-Europe partnership to safeguard democracy and global stability at the Berlin Security Conference Nov. 19 in the German capital.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wu made the remarks in his keynote speech titled “The Cross-Continental Defense of Democracy: Building Resilience and Innovation through Taiwan-European Cooperation.”
Wu said the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the venerability of global supply chains, while rising economic nationalism and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war are disturbing the international order. Expanding cooperation among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea is also threatening free trade and democracy around the world, he added.
As authoritarianism continues to expand, the security of the Indo-Pacific is closely linked to Europe, he said. If democracies draw back from authoritarian threats, this will lead to the idea that might is right, he said, urging countries to deter such threats with strength through enhancing defense, supply chains and social resilience.
The deputy minister underscored the importance of Taiwan as a cornerstone in regional security and for its key role in global high-tech supply chains and the digital economy. He said conflicts across the Taiwan Strait will devastate Indo-Pacific security, disrupt global technology supply chains and lead to the most severe economic and geopolitical impacts since World War II.
Wu thanked Europe for its concern for Taiwan over recent years, citing remarks made by European Union officials on global platforms stressing that maintaining cross-strait peace and stability is in the direct interest of Europe.
The minister said at a time when history is at a critical junction, Taiwan chooses to defend democracy and enhance resilience to make positive worldwide contributions. He urged unity against cognitive warfare, cyberattacks, economic coercion and hybrid tactics from authoritarian regimes to ensure a free, democratic and prosperous world. (SFC-E)
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