Lai Ching-te Launches Taiwan's First International Disaster Management Alliance for Global Cooperation

President Lai Ching-te received the heads of delegations from the World Disaster Management Alliance (WADM) at the Presidential Office today, pointing out that this meeting marks the first intergovernmental international organization initiated and established by Taiwan on its own accord in 55 years. President Lai emphasized that the core philosophy of the WADM is humanitarian-based, aiming to enhance the disaster prevention and relief capabilities of member states through a transnational cooperation platform, while enabling Taiwan to make substantive contributions on the international stage. This move not only responds to the challenges of global climate change and frequent extreme weather events, but also echoes Taiwan's long-accumulated professional experience and technology in the field of disaster prevention and relief.

Reviewing Taiwan's history of disaster management—from the 921 earthquake in 1999 and Typhoon Morakot in 2009 to the frequent torrential rains and geological disasters in recent years—Taiwan has established a comprehensive disaster early warning, response, and recovery mechanism. The real-time information sharing and rapid mobilization among the Central Weather Bureau, the National Fire Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, and local governments during disasters are often regarded as a model by the international community. These practical experiences are precisely the valuable resources needed by the WADM. President Lai pointed out that through a formal international organizational platform, Taiwan can systematically export disaster prevention and relief technologies, training materials, and drill models to help other member states enhance their disaster preparedness resilience.

The establishment of the WADM is inextricably linked to global trends in disaster governance. Over the past decade, international demand for disaster risk reduction and the coordination of humanitarian aid has continuously increased, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction has also encouraged countries to establish cross-border cooperation mechanisms. It is against this backdrop that the WADM was jointly initiated by multiple countries and regions with expertise in disaster management, aiming to bridge asymmetries in technology, resources, and information. As a major disaster prevention and relief demonstration area in Asia, Taiwan's participation in and leadership of this organization aligns with the international community's expectations for diverse cooperative partners.

On the diplomatic front, Taiwan has long faced challenges regarding its limited space for international participation. Despite this, Taiwan continues to strive for international recognition through practical contributions in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and technology. Taking the initiative to launch the WADM not only demonstrates Taiwan's leading position in disaster prevention and relief, but also serves as a strategic approach to expanding international partnerships through pragmatic diplomacy. President Lai mentioned that through close cooperation with allied and friendly partners, resources and personnel can be shared instantly when disasters strike in the future, thereby improving overall response efficiency and playing a crucial role in international rescue operations.

Finally, President Lai called on all member states to uphold the humanitarian spirit, regard disaster prevention and relief as a shared responsibility, and expressed his expectation that the WADM will become a bridge connecting different cultures and systems. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to invest resources in disaster risk assessment, technological research and development, and talent training. Through the international platform of the WADM, these achievements will be transformed into globally shared disaster prevention capital, ensuring that "Taiwan contributing to the world" is not merely a slogan, but a reflection of concrete action.