By Li Jingyao, Vision Times
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Polish president Lech Wałęsa recently visited Taiwan, where he attended several forums and discussions on democracy, international order, and cross-strait tensions. During the visit, Wałęsa argued that historical experience shows communism is not viable in China, while Taiwan’s political and economic achievements offer a powerful example for the world.
He also warned that if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were to attempt a military takeover of Taiwan, such efforts would ultimately fail.
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‘Communism cannot work in China’
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Wałęsa attended a discussion session on March 18 at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs under Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he shared his experiences in opposing communist rule in Eastern Europe.
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Wałęsa spoke about the importance of overthrowing authoritarian systems through a commitment to freedom and the rule of law, principles that guided Poland’s democratic transformation.
He explained that the Cold War era once produced a global order defined by the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. However, he noted that this old structure has reached its limits. “We must continue to uphold the spirit of freedom and the rule of law, combined with peaceful means, to face today’s international challenges and build a new order,” Wałęsa said.
He emphasized that history has already delivered a verdict on communist systems. “Facts have already proven that communism cannot work in China, and Taiwan’s outstanding achievements in politics and economics are providing an excellent model for the world.”
Wu Chih-chung, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister and head of the diplomatic academy, said in his remarks that he had long admired Wałęsa’s courage in defending democratic values and human rights.
Wu expressed hope that the academy’s students would carry forward Wałęsa’s belief in building a better international order based on freedom and democratic principles. During the discussion, students asked Wałęsa about transitional justice, the comparative strengths of capitalism and communism, and personal philosophy, topics he addressed by offering historical perspectives and encouraging broader thinking when confronting global challenges.
Taiwan as a model
Wałęsa also participated in the Yushan Forum, a regional dialogue jointly organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. According to United Daily News, Wałęsa said that under the current global situation, unity among the Chinese people should not come under the framework of Communist Party rule.
“In the current new situation, the Chinese nation must unite; but not under the rules of the Communist Party. Taiwan has performed exceptionally well in both economic development and democracy, and the unification of the Chinese nation should be led by Taiwan.”
Drawing on his own revolutionary experience in Poland, Wałęsa expressed confidence that freedom and democratic solutions would ultimately prevail. Wałęsa became internationally known in the 1970s for participating in anti-communist labor strikes in Poland. In 1980 he led the Solidarity movement, which challenged communist rule and eventually helped bring about democratic reforms.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and later became Poland’s president in 1990 following the country’s transition to democracy. Reflecting on historical lessons, Wałęsa emphasized that dialogue and peaceful solutions should always be prioritized. “The world can find good solutions through discussion. No matter what problems arise, they should be resolved peacefully. Using force or coercion will inevitably fail. In the long run, the use of force is not worthwhile, and communist solutions will also fail.”
Military force against Taiwan would fail
During the trip, Wałęsa also gave an interview to Taiwan’s Liberty Times, where he elaborated on his views regarding China and Taiwan. He argued that communism has reached a historical dead end, while the global order established after World War II is entering a new phase. Though Taiwan operates as a sovereign nation, Beijing views it as a breakaway province and has vowed to reclaim the self-governing island by “any means necessary.”
Wałęsa pointed to the collapse of the Soviet Union as a reminder that systems built on force and authoritarian control cannot last indefinitely.
Though many people once doubted the ability of Poland’s Solidarity movement to challenge communist power, he said, the movement ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet bloc and the breakdown of the Warsaw Pact. “If the CCP really resorts to the use of force against Taiwan, they will eventually fail,” Wałęsa warned.
He cited Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of how military aggression can isolate a country internationally. “Because Russia used force, almost all countries have distanced themselves from it.” Wałęsa added that if Beijing continues to rely on coercion and military pressure, the outcome would ultimately be the same.
Taiwan’s democratic path
During his visit, his seventh trip to Taiwan, Wałęsa also met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office on March 17.
In remarks reported by Newtalk News, Lai praised Wałęsa’s role in advancing democracy. “Wałęsa’s journey is deeply admirable, from bravely confronting authoritarian rule and winning the Nobel Peace Prize to becoming the first democratically elected president after Poland’s democratization. His experience tells the world that freedom is never a gift from rulers, and democracy is never an accident of history.”
Lai added that both Taiwan and Poland share historical experiences of emerging from authoritarian rule. “The path Poland has taken is not unfamiliar to Taiwan. Both societies struggled step by step under authoritarian rule before moving toward democracy.”
He also noted that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, held in 1996 despite military threats from Beijing. “At that moment, the belief that sovereignty belongs to the people took deep root on this land,” Lai said.
The Taiwanese president thanked Wałęsa for supporting Taiwan over the past three decades and for witnessing the island’s democratic development.
Editorial note: Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vision Times.
