In an exclusive interview with Radio Taiwan International’s “Good Morning, Taiwan” program on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) shared insights from his recent visits to Europe and described how Taiwan can continue building meaningful relationships despite diplomatic constraints.

Lin visited Europe twice in September, heading first to the Czech Republic, Italy, and Austria to pursue what he defined as cultural diplomacy; he then visited Poland to attend the Warsaw Security Forum, in a move he defined as think tank diplomacy.

According to Lin, cultural diplomacy is a particularly effective tool for engaging with Europe, as it enables other countries to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan and see it as more than just a high-tech island nation. The marginalization of Taiwan enables it to showcase itself in different ways, he said, and to demonstrate its cultural richness and diversity.

Lin noted that Europe has been a key focus of Taiwan’s cultural diplomacy in the latter half of 2025. He highlighted the Taiwan Pavilion that was featured at the Osaka Expo in Japan, as well as the FindingTAIWAN International Short Film Contest, which invited contestants worldwide to produce short films on Taiwan’s presence throughout the world. He emphasized that these initiatives show that while Taiwan may often be excluded on the international stage, its presence can still be felt.

As for his experience in Poland, Lin said that while China may pressure countries to bar Taiwanese officials from participating in certain events in Poland, think tank activities remain an open venue. The Warsaw Security Forum has been a leading European conference for more than a decade, and it stands to reason that the world’s foreign and defense ministers would endeavor to attend, Lin explained.