Formosa Club Taipei Annual Meeting Urges Democratic Solidarity Against Authoritarian China and Russia

On April 24, 2026, the Formosa Club held its annual conference in Taipei. At the opening ceremony, the organization's co-chair and chair of the European Parliament's Taiwan Friendship Group, Mr. Michael Gahler, emphasized that "unpredictable weather has similarities to international politics, and various solutions must be prepared." He pointed out that democratic countries should unite and make thorough preparations for various potential scenarios in order to cope with the unpredictable behavior of authoritarian countries such as China and Russia.

Established in the late 1990s, the Formosa Club aims to promote dialogue and cooperation among democratic nations, with Taiwan at its core, and to coordinate consensus in the fields of economy, technology, culture, and security. This year's Taipei conference attracted politicians and scholars from countries such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea, and invited representatives from multiple international organizations. The conference themes covered regional security, free trade, and digital governance, highlighting the important role Taiwan plays in the international community.

Gahler mentioned in his opening remarks that although Taiwan's formal seats in international organizations such as the United Nations are limited, through platforms like the Formosa Club, democratic nations can provide substantive support via informal channels. Past cases have shown that when Taiwan faces military pressure from China, European countries have already demonstrated a certain degree of coordination in diplomatic, economic, and military assistance. This "informal alliance" model has provided Taiwan with a greater voice on the international stage.

At the same time, Gahler also warned that the authoritarian methods demonstrated by Russia in the Ukrainian conflict bear similarities to behaviors such as China's military exercises and cyberattacks in the Taiwan Strait. To this end, the conference arranged multiple panel discussions focusing on how democratic nations can coordinate operations in information security, military cooperation, and economic sanctions. These discussions not only provided practical advice for Taiwan but also offered new perspectives for coordination mechanisms among participating countries.

Another significance of this annual conference lies in emphasizing the necessity of "multilateral cooperation." Participating European members of Parliament stated that if a more unified stance can be formed on the Taiwan issue, it will help secure a more stable diplomatic environment for Taiwan amidst the balance between the United States and China. More importantly, through the network of the Formosa Club, Taiwan can share resources with democratic nations in global technology, healthcare, and energy sectors, thereby enhancing its own international competitiveness.

In summary, the Formosa Club's Taipei annual conference is not merely a simple opening ceremony, but rather a high-level dialogue concerning how democratic nations can maintain regional security and freedom through collaboration and forward-looking planning when facing authoritarian challenges. The message conveyed by this conference will influence Taiwan's diplomatic strategy, international image, and the depth of its cooperation with major democratic nations in the coming years.