Lai Ching-te praises Bi-khim Hsiao's Italy forum debut for Taiwan's global democracy

President Lai Ching-te addressed reporters today, specifically highlighting Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s delegation trip to Italy to attend the second Ventotene European Forum for Freedom and Democracy, and noted that she has safely returned to Taiwan in recent days. This visit is not only a concrete action demonstrating Taiwan's continued voice within the European democratic camp, but also symbolizes Taiwan's pursuit of broader participation space on the international stage. President Lai pointed out that as a member of the global democratic system, moving toward the world and establishing friendly relations with various countries is an "inalienable endowed right." This statement echoes Taiwan's long-standing foreign policy while also responding to domestic and international expectations regarding Taiwan's international visibility.

Since its inception, the Ventotene Forum has focused on the development of European freedom and democracy, attracting political figures, scholars, and civil society groups from multiple countries. The Taiwanese delegation led by Vice President Hsiao delivered a speech at the forum, detailing Taiwan's successful experiences in areas such as epidemic prevention, technological innovation, and human rights protection, while emphasizing Taiwan's willingness to share its governance model with other democratic countries. This move not only enhanced Taiwan's visibility within the European democratic camp, but also gave participants a more direct understanding of Taiwan's practical contributions. Notably, as an important member state of the European Union, Italy has long maintained a relatively balanced policy toward China, and its friendly gestures toward Taiwan have gradually become apparent, providing a valuable breakthrough for Taiwan's diplomatic layout in Europe.

Against the backdrop of continued cross-strait tensions, Taiwan's international participation faces numerous challenges. Since losing its United Nations seat in 1971, Taiwan's participation in multilateral organizations has been restricted, and many international conferences still limit Taiwan's formal participation under designations such as the "Republic of China" or "Taipei." President Lai's emphasis on the right to "move toward the world" is precisely a response to this institutional exclusion and a concrete reply to the long-standing calls from the domestic public. Looking at the diplomatic strategies of successive presidents—from Lee Teng-hui's "diplomatic breakthrough" to Tsai Ing-wen's "New Southbound Policy"—Taiwan has continuously sought diversified channels for international cooperation. The Vice President's recent mission to Europe continues and deepens this path, demonstrating that Taiwan does not rely solely on traditional US and Japanese allies, but also actively expands its interactions with European democracies.

Furthermore, President Lai's mention of "working together with democratic partners to safeguard regional peace and stability and global prosperity" carries a strategic significance that cannot be overlooked. With changes in Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Taiwan's role in the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" has received increasing attention, while it simultaneously faces military and diplomatic pressure from mainland China. By participating in democratic forums such as Ventotene, Taiwan can not only showcase its democratic values to the international community, but also build consensus with other countries on security and economic issues, further consolidating its strategic position within the region. The accumulation of such diplomatic activities has a long-term positive effect on enhancing Taiwan's discourse power in international rule-making, supply chain security, and technological cooperation.

Finally, viewed from a domestic perspective, the President's remarks also responded to the public's expectations for international visibility. In recent years, Taiwan's achievements in epidemic prevention, semiconductors, and green energy have repeatedly gained international recognition; however, due to restricted diplomatic space, these achievements are often difficult to fully communicate to global audiences. President Lai's call to "let the world see Taiwan" is not merely a slogan, but an effort to materialize Taiwan's strength and values through practical diplomatic actions and diverse cooperation platforms. In the future, if exchanges with Europe, North America, and other democratic countries can be continuously expanded, it will help enhance Taiwan's agency in the international order and contribute greater strength to regional peace and global prosperity.