President Lai Ching-te said Sept. 26 that Taiwan is committed to strengthening joint defense and intelligence-sharing mechanisms with its allies, as well as to promoting various exchanges to enhance collaborative capabilities.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation of intelligence and security chiefs from Latin America and the Caribbean at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
The president cites China’s increasing attempts at military coercion against Taiwan and its efforts to undermine the operations of democratic politics as examples of challenges such as foreign infiltration and disinformation that pose a massive threat to democratic systems. Only by strengthening cooperation among democracies can authoritarian expansion be prevented, he said.
Taiwan is on the front line facing threats from China, Lai said, noting that the country continues to enhance self-defense capabilities and build whole-of-society defense and resilience. He added that he will also direct the National Security Bureau to move forward on assistance and training mechanisms with allies.
The president thanked Taiwan’s allies for speaking up for the country at meetings of international bodies and pledged to jointly promote mutual prosperity and development, maintain regional peace and stability and safeguard global democracy and freedom.
Marco Alcaraz, minister of Paraguay’s National Secretariat of Intelligence, said in response that countries are facing increased cyberattacks targeting strategic areas such as telecommunications and the military. China’s goal is not only to steal sensitive data but also to weaken digital sovereignty and diplomatic relations, he added.
Latin American countries are increasingly subject to China’s divisive tactics, Alcaraz said. He added that with staunch allies like Taiwan always providing support, Paraguay is never alone, and said he looked forward to seeing the allies continue to consolidate their partnership through long-term strategic planning. (YCH-E)
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