According to the Taipei Times, the Czech Centre Taipei hosted the forum “The Václav Havel Dialogues: Human Rights and Responsibility in a Changing World” on Wednesday, June 3.
At the event, Miloš Vystrčil, a leading Czech politician and President of the Senate—who visited Taiwan in 2020 and famously declared “I am Taiwanese” in Taiwan’s legislature—emphasized: “I am convinced that in today’s world, resilience and security are more important than immediate profit or the lowest possible price.”
Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen invoked the ideals of Václav Havel, saying that democracy, human rights, and freedom depend on people living authentically and truthfully.
Freedom comes with responsibility; security resilience matters more than immediate interests
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), former President Tsai Ing-wen delivered the opening remarks at the forum, while Miloš Vystrčil gave the keynote speech.
Also attending were Taiwan’s representative to the Czech Republic, Chen Li-kuo, and David Steinke, head of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office.
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Vystrčil structured his remarks around what he called “three 30th anniversaries,” saying that they were closely connected to developments in today’s world and symbolically linked Taiwan, the Czech Senate, and former Czech President Václav Havel.
First, he highlighted March 23, 1996, when Taiwan held its first direct presidential election, marking its complete transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.
He noted that the Czech Republic shares similarities with Taiwan and is unique in the world because its democratic transformation was also achieved peacefully.
Vystrčil urged the audience to take pride in this accomplishment and once again expressed his highest respect and congratulations to Taiwan for its democratic achievements.
Miloš Vystrčil noted that, before departing for Taiwan, he and fellow Czech senators had commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Senate’s inaugural constitutional session. During the occasion, they reaffirmed “A Senate Faithful to Freedom” as the Senate’s guiding motto.
He stressed: “We must never forget that freedom entails responsibility. It is impossible to be faithful to freedom while ignoring responsibility. Loyalty to freedom alone, without responsibility, can evolve into populism or even anarchy.”
Regarding the third “30th anniversary,” Vystrčil referred to a speech delivered by former Czech President Václav Havelon May 15, 1996, titled “Europe as a Task.”
According to Vystrčil, Havel noted in that speech that the word “Europe” is derived from the Semitic Akkadian term erbu, meaning “evening” or “dusk.”
Vystrčil said that today, in Europe and indeed throughout the world, a particular stage of development appears to be drawing to a close and a metaphorical twilight is approaching. However, he added that dusk is always followed by dawn, and that the task facing people today is: “To do everything in our power to ensure that the life-giving sun rises once again.”
Vystrčil emphasized that cooperation among nations is a shared responsibility, particularly among democratic and free societies.
He argued that by protecting and supporting one another, democracies can jointly strengthen their security, improve their competitiveness, and enhance both their resilience and their strategic autonomy.
Miloš Vystrčil emphasized that “freedom comes with responsibility” and that: “The importance of resilience and security outweighs temporary happiness and short-term interests.”
He argued that security, resilience, and the rule of law are achievements of democracy that safeguard a better future. Their foundation, he said, lies in respect for people and their rights, as well as respect for shared values.
Democracy, human rights, and freedom depend on people ‘living in truth’
Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in her remarks that despite facing considerable pressure, Miloš Vystrčil has consistently demonstrated strong support for Taiwan. His stance has deeply moved many people in Taiwan and further strengthened the friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Tsai also spoke about her personal connection to Václav Havel. She recalled that in 2004 she traveled to Prague to attend the Forum 2000 conference, where she had the opportunity to meet Havel. The following month, Havel visited Taiwan and shared the story of the Czech Republic’s democratization, discussing how students and citizens challenged authoritarian rule and helped establish democracy.
Tsai noted that one of Havel’s central ideas was “Living in Truth.” She explained that Havel believed personal integrity could serve as a powerful counterweight to authoritarianism and that civic courage forms the foundation of a vibrant civil society and healthy democracy.
According to Tsai, Havel’s philosophy reminds the world that the most important element of a democratic society is not its institutions but its people. In both Taiwan and the Czech Republic, citizens believe they possess a meaningful voice in shaping their shared future, a conviction grounded in the dignity, freedom, and human rights protected by democracy.
Tsai concluded by stressing that democracy, human rights, and freedom should never be taken for granted. They can only be sustained over the long term if people continue to “live in truth,” engage in active dialogue, and contribute to cultural and civic life.
She added that the enduring friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic is built on shared values. By learning from one another and continuously strengthening people-to-people ties, both sides can help ensure that Havel’s ideals remain alive for future generations.
Undeterred by Beijing’s pressure, Vystrčil once declared: ‘I am Taiwanese’
Miloš Vystrčil visited Taiwan in 2020 despite pressure from Beijing. During that trip, he delivered his widely quoted statement in Taiwan’s legislature: “I am Taiwanese.”
The remark was widely viewed as a demonstration of democratic conviction and solidarity and resonated strongly with many people in Taiwan.
Returning to Taiwan six years later, Vystrčil visited the Presidential Office on the morning of June 2, where President Lai Ching-te personally awarded him the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon.
Lai said the honor was bestowed in recognition of Vystrčil’s longstanding support for Taiwan, his outstanding contributions to Czech–Taiwan relations, and his steadfast defense of democratic values around the world.
President Lai Ching-te said that, just as Miloš Vystrčil has advocated solidarity among democratic nations and the defense of shared values, Taiwan and the Czech Republic have continuously deepened their partnership over the past several years.
Lai noted that the two sides have not only worked together to safeguard their common democratic and freedom-oriented values, but have also achieved substantial cooperative results across a wide range of fields, including trade and investment, technology, culture, and education.
He emphasized that the Taiwan–Czech relationship has continued to grow stronger through these shared commitments and practical collaborations, producing fruitful outcomes that benefit both sides while reinforcing the principles of democracy and freedom.
