President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) addressed the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit via video on Wednesday, outlining Taiwan's vision for the future and key priorities in the current international security landscape.
In his remarks, Lai emphasized the government's commitment to strengthen Taiwan, that a robust Taiwan is better equipped to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity. He expressed hope for collaboration with other nations to uphold democratic values and counter authoritarian aggression, aligning with the summit's theme.
Lai highlighted the serious challenges facing democracy, such as Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and China's increasing military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding regions. He added that China poses serious threats to global peace and stability through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare.
Lai pointed out that China often deploys lawfare and distorts history to expand its influence. He referred to Taiwan’s status as a case in point, emphasizing that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other. He also condemned China’s misinterpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758, which claims Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China, thereby denying Taiwan's right to participate in international fora.
Lai expressed gratitude to the U.S. and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) for their efforts in countering these misinterpretations. He warned that China's threat to Taiwan jeopardizes not only regional stability but also the entire international community, as it seeks to alter the status quo and undermine the rules-based international order.
He said that Taiwan will pursue his four-pillar action plan which entails strengthening defense capabilities and economic security, fostering partnerships with other democracies, and maintaining a stable and consistent cross-strait policy. Lai called for more countries to support democratic Taiwan and global democracy, emphasizing that by working together, nations can sustain peace and pave the way for greater prosperity.