Tsai Ing-wen Emphasizes Taiwan's Defense Resilience and Strategic Role in Stanford Speech

Former Republic of China President Tsai Ing-wen recently traveled to the United States West Coast at the invitation of organizers to attend the 2026 Technology and National Security Symposium held at the academic hub of Stanford University, delivering a keynote address at a specially arranged VIP dinner. The event brought together technology experts, national security think tank scholars, and policymakers from both the United States and Taiwan to discuss the current, rapidly changing national security challenges intertwined with geopolitics and cutting-edge technology. In her speech, Tsai articulated a clear, firm policy direction and forward-looking vision regarding Taiwan's current defense strategy, regional security situation, and the deep partnership between Taiwan and the United States.

At the core of her speech, Tsai emphasized that in the face of increasingly severe regional conditions, Taiwan must make greater substantive efforts in the defense sector and continue to invest adequate resources. She pointed out that amid complex geopolitical shifts, relying solely on one's own strength is not enough; Taiwan must actively forge ties with like-minded friends and reliable partners, deepening cooperation to jointly confront shared threats and challenges. Tsai stated clearly that Taiwan's own possession of strong and credible defense capabilities is not only the cornerstone for maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, but also an indispensable key element in ensuring the long-term stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Reviewing her past eight years in office as president, Tsai consistently promoted a policy of national defense self-reliance, including strong support for indigenous shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing projects, as well as the reinstatement and reform of the compulsory military service system, thereby progressively enhancing Taiwan's overall defense resilience. Her return to U.S. soil as a VIP and delivery of a public address following the conclusion of her presidency has drawn intense international attention and close scrutiny from U.S. think tanks. Stanford University has long been a major gathering place for think tanks studying Asia-Pacific affairs and technology policy in the United States. Delivering a speech on technology and national security there not only highlights Taiwan's strategic position in the global democratic supply chain, but once again conveys to the international community that Taiwan's determination for self-defense remains steadfast, unaffected by changes in ruling parties or personal office.

Viewed from a broader strategic perspective, security and technological development in the Indo-Pacific region are currently inseparable. Fields such as the semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity protection have already become core battlegrounds for great power competition and national security. Tsai's call at the symposium dinner for Taiwan and the United States to jointly create security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region precisely struck a chord with the core issues of greatest concern to Washington's strategic circles. Bipartisan support for Taiwan in the United States has remained highly consistent. Especially under the framework of the Indo-Pacific strategy, as a crucial defense line of the first island chain, Taiwan's democratic values and strategic location hold irreplaceable significance for the United States in maintaining its regional leadership position.

Looking ahead, as Taiwan faces challenges interwoven with traditional and non-traditional security threats, how to continuously deepen substantive cooperation with the United States and other democratic partners will be a vital issue bearing on the nation's survival and development. Tsai's speech at Stanford University not only continued the steady diplomatic and defense path established during her tenure, but also outlined a clear policy vision for future cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. in technology security and regional stability. This dinner address was far from a mere exercise in diplomatic protocol; it served as an important milestone for Taiwan to continue making its voice heard internationally and securing broader strategic backing, exerting a profound impact on consolidating Taiwan's international visibility.

(Source: Central News Agency)