Fan Yun runs for Liberal International Vice President to showcase Taiwan's achievements

At this year's Liberal International General Assembly, held simultaneously in Thailand and Taiwan, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun was commissioned by her party to attend and run for the position of Executive Vice President. This year's assembly focused on the defense and promotion of global liberalism and democracy, attracting over one hundred political parties and civil society organizations. Fan pointed out during the meeting that Taiwan has not only achieved remarkable success in domestic governance but has also steadfastly defended pluralistic values under external pressure, equipping it to share its experience with the international community. Her candidacy symbolizes Taiwan's quest for a greater voice in the international liberal front and demonstrates the DPP's desire to leverage its institutional achievements as diplomatic assets.

Taiwan's National Health Insurance system, fully implemented since 1995, has become a rare example in Asia capable of providing universal healthcare. Through the collaborative operation of the government and the private sector, a relative balance has been achieved between medical resource allocation and cost control, serving as a model for many developing countries to reference. Fan emphasized in her speech that the success of the health insurance system is not only an enhancement of social welfare, but also a reflection of the transparency of democratic governance, as the formulation of medical policies must broadly incorporate citizens' opinions to ensure fairness and sustainability. She believes that such experience can help other countries avoid resource waste and systemic loopholes when promoting universal health coverage.

In the field of education, Taiwan has promoted twelve-year basic education since 1999 and continues to deepen higher education internationalization and the cultivation of technical talent. In recent years, the government has focused even more on promoting STEM education and cross-disciplinary innovative curricula to enhance youth competitiveness. Fan pointed out that the openness and diversity of the education system allow Taiwan to maintain its appeal in global talent mobility while fostering citizens equipped with critical thinking and a spirit of civic engagement. She believes these educational achievements are not only the cornerstone of domestic development but can also provide a template for talent training and policy exchange within Liberal International.

Women's political participation and marriage equality represent major milestones for Taiwan in terms of social justice. Since the 2000s, the proportion of women in the Legislative Yuan, local councils, and executive agencies has continued to rise, forming a more balanced gender representation. In 2019, Taiwan became the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, making it the only country in the region to recognize same-sex marriage. Fan explained at the assembly that these achievements demonstrate Taiwan's institutional and cultural foundation for gender equality and human rights protection, which can serve as a reference for other countries and voice the values of freedom and democracy on the international stage.

Finally, Fan specifically mentioned that against the backdrop of escalating military and political pressure from mainland China, Taiwan has still managed to maintain an open political environment and a pluralistic society, demonstrating resilient democratic tenacity. She believes Taiwan's practice proves that even when facing external threats, democratic systems can still be sustained through institutionalized defense mechanisms and the participation of civil society. She called upon member states of Liberal International to strengthen cooperation, allowing Taiwan's experience to become a shared asset of the global liberal front and enhancing the collective capability to counter authoritarian forces.