President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says Taiwan will continue to improve its defense capabilities and cooperate with democratic partners to create better supply chains. Those remarks came during a meeting with German Marshall Fund representatives. The fund is an important defense-focused think tank.
Tsai says the world has seen many big changes in the recent past. But Taiwan, the US and Europe were able to better face the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges through mutual assistance. She says the rise of authoritarianism around the world, seen in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s military drills around Taiwan, is a serious challenge to the global democratic system. That’s why democracies should band together and protect the values of freedom and democracy.
Tsai adds that the rise of authoritarian rule is also influencing the global economy. She says Taiwan, the US and European countries should help each other create resilient supply chains. The president adds Taiwan hopes to do that through dedicated cooperation programs and participation in international trade agreements.