Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Taiwan could become Europe’s most beneficial partner as the continent pursues reindustrialization and rearmament.

Speaking in a radio interview on Thursday, Lin said European governments increasingly recognize that stability in the Taiwan Strait is tied to the future of Europe’s democratic development. He said Taiwan’s technological strength and its reputation for “backdoor-free” products position the island as a reliable partner as Europe works to rebuild its industrial base and strengthen defense capabilities.

A series of recent high-level exchanges highlights this shift. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) attended the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) annual meeting in Brussels, former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) spoke at the Berlin Freedom Conference, and Lin has already made three visits to Europe this year.

Lin said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with China’s support for Moscow, has reshaped Europe’s broader security outlook. He cited the Sept. 3 military parade in Beijing—where the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea appeared together—as a symbolic reminder of authoritarian coordination, prompting democracies to deepen cooperation and defend a rules-based international order.

“So the Taiwan issue, or the Taiwan Strait issue, is no longer just a cross-strait matter—it is a global issue. I have also seen more countries’ naval vessels exercise freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait. Every time the G7 summits or foreign ministers’ meetings issue statements, they now include peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and that shows Taiwan is not alone,” Lin said.

He added that Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing make it an indispensable and trusted economic partner.