On Friday, June 12 Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim met with a delegation attending the 58th General Assembly of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) in Taipei.
She said that, in the face of geopolitical shifts, advances in technology and artificial intelligence, and other global challenges, Taiwan is actively strengthening whole-of-society resilience and will continue working with like-minded partners to safeguard the shared values of freedom and democracy, as well as common interests, while jointly maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region.
According to a June 12 press release issued by Taiwan’s Office of the President, Vice President Hsiao welcomed the IFLRY delegation during a meeting that afternoon and thanked the organization for choosing Taiwan as the host of this year’s General Assembly, saying the decision carries great significance for Taiwan.
Hsiao noted that the world is currently confronting geopolitical changes, the rapid development of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, increasing social polarization, disinformation, and malicious political influence, all of which are undermining public confidence in political institutions and trust among people. She said these challenges require a collective international response and reaffirmed that Taiwan is committed to being a force for good in Asia and around the world.
Hsiao said that Taiwan has made tremendous efforts to build its democratic system and remains committed to safeguarding democracy and freedom—core values that are deeply rooted in Taiwanese society. Among the many challenges Taiwan faces, she said, the greatest comes from China, including military intimidation, gray-zone coercion, cognitive warfare and infiltration, as well as cyberattacks.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
She also thanked like-minded partners around the world for their longstanding support for Taiwan and for working together to defend freedom and democracy. Hsiao said she was particularly encouraged to see that the visiting delegation was composed of young people with ideals, hope, and a clear sense of purpose, who support and inspire one another while sharing their experiences and best practices.
READ MORE:
- Taiwan Conducts First Public Live-Fire HIMARS Drill on West Coast Facing Taiwan Strait
- Taiwan Court Ends Anti-Infiltration Trial for Mainland Chinese Spouse Xu Chunying
- $14 Billion Taiwan Weapons Package Faces Uncertainty Amid US–China Tensions
A special respect
Hsiao expressed special respect for the delegation members from Ukraine. She said that Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has continued to cause casualties and suffering, serving as a reminder of the value of freedom and the importance of being fully prepared and strengthening resilience in the face of authoritarian threats.
She said that Ukraine’s resilience has inspired many people in Taiwan by demonstrating how a society can defend its freedom and way of life through asymmetric defense capabilities and societal resilience when confronted by a much stronger authoritarian power.
She also thanked the Liberal International, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), and youth representatives from various countries for their longstanding support for Taiwan.
She said that as authoritarian regimes continue to squeeze Taiwan’s international space and limit its global participation, Taiwan is grateful to its international partners for helping it withstand these pressures and for providing platforms for its engagement with the international community.
Hsiao reaffirmed that Taiwan will continue working with like-minded partners to defend shared values and common interests, safeguard peace and stability in Europe, Ukraine, and the Taiwan Strait, and ensure that modern technologies contribute to prosperity and progress.
