President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) emphasized the need for increased exchanges focused on tackling disinformation, during a meeting with foreign politicians and scholars at the Presidential Office in Taipei Wednesday.
Taiwan is at the forefront of defending democracy and often faces cognitive warfare, disinformation, and cyberattacks, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with free and democratic countries, exchanging experiences in combating disinformation, Tsai told the delegation, which is in Taipei for the annual Ketagalan Forum.
In recent years, Taiwan has continued to strengthen cooperation with democracies such as the United States, Japan, the European Union, Australia, and Canada to exchange experiences on combating disinformation and safeguarding freedom of speech, Tsai added.
The president said she looks forward to more interactions and cooperation between Taiwan and democratic and free countries to jointly safeguard the values of democracy and freedom.
Taiwan will actively share related experiences with partners around the world, Tsai added.
Tsai said she firmly believed that while formidable challenges remain, no democratic country should have to fight its battles alone, quoting former Estonian prime minister Andrus Ansip's comments from Tuesday at the Ketagalan Forum.
In return, Ansip said in his speech that Taiwan's current achievements come from the deliciated efforts of the people, and he admires Taiwan's strong democracy and flourishing economy.
The European Union parliamentarian added that what impressed him the most during his visit to Taiwan is the most advanced microchips production and industry in the world that Taiwan managed to set up here.
"We are living in extraordinary times," he said, adding that crisis, wars, and the lack of reciprocity in relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) have made many people reassess the situation in the world, including himself.
Through the war unleashed by Russia and the energy crisis the Russians initiated in Europe, people have realized how dangerous when unilaterally dependent on the authoritarian state is, the Estonian politician said.
"This understanding has led us to demand technological sovereignty in several areas," he said, adding it doesn't mean isolationism, protectionism, or the end of liberal trade but to balance these trends with even closer cooperation between democracies, such as Taiwan.
Ansip noted Taiwan and Estonia are like-minded countries and democratic partners that share the common values of democracy, freedom and human rights.
He said he will make every effort to build good ties with Taiwan, and he also believes that the cooperation between Taiwan and Estonia and between Taiwan and the European Union will deepen.
"I want to contribute to that [endeavor]."
The one-day Ketagalan Forum, organized by Taiwan's government, also featured Taro Aso, a senior Diet member who served as Japan's prime minister from 2008-2009, and former American diplomat Daniel Russel.
