President Tsai Ing-wen discussed the need for like-minded countries to defend shared values in the face of rising authoritarianism, as well as Taiwan’s efforts in combating coronavirus, during her special address June 19 at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
Organized by Denmark-headquartered Alliance of Democracies, a nonprofit founded by the Scandinavian country’s former Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the third edition of the annual event was staged virtually due to COVID-19. Other high-profile participants included U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova, former Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and former U.S. Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright.
Tsai said the people of Taiwan overwhelmingly chose democracy in the country’s presidential election this year. Democracy is in Taiwan’s DNA, and is what enabled all segments of Taiwan society to quickly come together in the fight against the pandemic, she added.
Taiwan was well prepared for the health emergency, the president said, adding that its experiences with severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003 held the country in good stead.
The World Health Organization decided to put politics above health by not inviting the country to present the Taiwan Model at the 73rd World Health Assembly, Tsai said. Nonetheless, Taiwan Can Help by sharing its know-how and resources with countries around the globe, she added, citing donations of 52 million face masks and other personal protective equipment to more than 80 countries.
Regarding Hong Kong, the president said the government will provide humanitarian aid to the people while joining the international community in urging Beijing to honor its obligation to respect Hong Kong’s freedom and democracy.
Tsai also took the opportunity to invite European nations to invest in Taiwan, a country boasting top talent, a proven high-tech industry and deep-seated respect for human rights, intellectual property and the rule of law. A Taiwan-EU investment agreement would be one of the best examples of democracies supporting each other, and an effective way of consolidating the country’s democracy, she said.
The president concluded her address with a post-pandemic invitation for participants to visit Taiwan and see firsthand its vibrant, open and respectful democracy, as well as gain a deeper understanding of why the country is a force for good in the world. (TYT-E)
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