President Tsai Ing-wen opened the Ketagalan Forum: 2020 Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue Sept. 8 in Taipei City, reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with like-minded partners in building a free, open and prosperous region.
COVID-19 is one of the greatest challenges to face humankind in the 21st century, Tsai said. Taiwan Can Help is the ethos exemplified in all of the country’s coronavirus-combating efforts at home and around the world, she added.
This philosophy of assisting others also applies to managing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Tsai said, adding that Taiwan stands on the front lines in defending democracy from authoritarian aggression.
According to Tsai, the government is defending the country’s democratic way of life through measures like accelerating the development of asymmetrical capabilities to strengthen national defense, as well as advancing plans for reform of military reserve and mobilization systems. This is complemented by ongoing arms procurements from the U.S. and enhancement of Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry, she said.
But no one country can accomplish the goals of maintaining regional peace, prosperity and security alone, Tsai said, adding that this requires far-reaching collaboration.
It is time for like-minded countries, and democratic friends in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, to discuss a framework to generate sustained and concerted efforts to maintain a strategic order that deters unilateral aggressive actions, Tsai said. Such a model of collaboration among like-minded partners will safeguard the cherished shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, she added.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taipei-headquartered think tank Institute for National Defense and Security Research, the two-day semivirtual event seeks to deepen cooperation among key stakeholders while promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Top academics, experts and officials taking part in the fourth editions of the dialogue hail from 13 countries. These include MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, ex-U.S. National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, Japanese Member in the Diet’s upper house Matsukawa Rui, Australian Member of Parliament Andrew Laming, Polish Academy of Science President Jerzy Duszynski, Daniel Russel, vice president for International Security and Diplomacy at the Washington-based Asia Society Policy Institute, and ambassadors and representatives from the Taiwan diplomatic corps. (TYT-E)
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