Taiwan will defend ‘freedoms and democracy’, President Tsai Ing-wen tells security forum, takes veiled swipe at Beijing over ‘misinformation’
- Most pressing threat to hard-earned values ‘comes from authoritarian regimes’, island’s leader tells Taipei Security Dialogue
- In apparent criticism of Beijing, Tsai highlights ‘authoritarian actors’ cognitive warfare, in the form of mis- and/or disinformation’
“We must remain steadfast in our defence of freedoms and democracy,” Tsai told researchers, former foreign officials and diplomats gathered for the Taipei Security Dialogue.
The annual conference is hosted by the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, a government think tank in the Taiwanese capital. This year’s theme was “China and the Challenge to the Global Order and Democracy”.
“Perhaps the most pressing threat to these values comes from authoritarian regimes,” Tsai said.
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Taiwan holds nuclear emergency drill as mainland Chinese planes enter island’s air defence zone
Taiwan has been shoring up its defences, Tsai said, citing the reintroduction of a year’s mandatory military service for all Taiwanese, reorganisation of the island’s military structure, launch of its first indigenous submarine prototype in September and increases in its defence budget.
