Throughout a week-long European trip former President Tsai Ing-wen noted the importance of safeguarding Taiwan’s democratic way of life and said that Taiwan will continue to work with global democracies to uphold shared values in the face of authoritarian expansion.
Tsai made the remarks during a historic May 15 speech to members of the U.K. Parliament. The former president first praised Taiwan-U.K. cooperation in offshore wind power generation, adding that the Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement signed by the two sides in 2023 further facilitated bilateral collaboration in areas spanning digital trade, investment and renewable energy.
Taiwan and the U.K. both have the capability to tackle foreign information manipulation and interference, Tsai said, suggesting that the partners should work together to advance resilience and security. She thanked the U.K. House of Commons for passing a resolution last November stating that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan.
Taiwan is not only a bastion of democracy, but also a cornerstone for maintaining regional peace and stability, Tsai noted, adding that the country will continue to deepen relations with other democracies and contribute to regional freedom and security. Tsai’s current visit to the U.K. is part of her second European tour since leaving office in May 2024.
The former president also traveled to Lithuania and Denmark; in the former she addressed Vilnius University May 12, lauding cooperation with the Baltic State in assisting Ukraine and in strengthening technology and startups connections. She further called on democracies to unite to counter disinformation and address attacks on critical infrastructure such as undersea cables.
Arriving in Denmark May 13, Tsai visited the Danish Parliament and delivered a speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. She said that democracies need a new set of strategies to ensure national security and economic prosperity, and building resilience is key to survival. The former president further shared Taiwan’s enhanced resilience in the fields of economy, digital infrastructure, national defense and trade.
Tsai’s first European tour after leaving office took her to the Czech Republic, France and Belgium in October 2024. (YCH-E)
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