Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called for stronger international cooperation to defend democracy during a speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference on Monday, warning that the challenges facing Taiwan today could confront any nation tomorrow. She said only through collaboration and robust defense can the world safeguard security and democratic values for future generations.

Speaking on the topic “Threats Facing Democracies: Taiwan's Experience Defending Freedom,” Tsai said that authoritarian regimes in Asia and Europe are increasingly using tactics such as disinformation, cognitive warfare, and the exploitation of open societies to influence elections and sow division. She noted that Taiwan has transformed such threats into resilience by protecting its elections, countering misinformation, and reinforcing national defense and social unity.

Tsai emphasized that resilience is vital to democracy’s survival, encompassing military readiness as well as digital and social preparedness. She also highlighted Taiwan’s central role in the global supply chain, saying the island’s high-tech and semiconductor industries are indispensable to the world economy. “Our high-tech sector, especially semiconductors, forms the backbone of global prosperity in an era when artificial intelligence defines national strength,” she said.

Expressing gratitude to the G7, the European Union, the United States, and the German national parliament for their continued support of peace in the Taiwan Strait, Tsai said international solidarity sends a clear message: Taiwan is not alone. Comparing today’s cooperation to the spirit of unity that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall, she voiced confidence that democratic societies working together can build a brighter future for freedom worldwide.