During her visit to the Czech Republic, former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the 28th Forum 2000 in Prague and delivered a speech on democracy and resilience on Monday.

In her speech, Tsai said that democratic countries worldwide have faced unprecedented challenges. She stated that authoritarian regimes have become increasingly emboldened, attempting to erode public confidence in democratic institutions through gray zone tactics, cognitive and information warfare, and military aggression. 

Tsai pointed to Taiwan as a prime example of this, as it has faced continuous threats from China for more than 50 years; most recent among these threats are the two Joint Sword series of military drills. However, she also emphasized that these experiences have made Taiwanese society and its leaders more resilient, more pragmatic, and more eager to cooperate with like-minded nations to resist intimidation and coercion.

The former president highlighted the continued growth of Taiwan’s partnerships with the EU and its member states, despite the attempts authoritarian regimes have made to subvert European democracy and put pressure on countries that maintain relations with Taiwan. She expressed her belief in the importance of solidarity among democratic countries and confidence in one’s national identity.