Taipei: Building societal resilience cannot rely on fear but rather must be rooted in duty and a sense of belonging, European Union Representative to Taiwan Lutz Gllner said Saturday at a Presidential Office forum in Taipei. Gllner, head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan (EETO), highlighted the importance of public communication in government efforts to promote societal preparedness and resilience against various hazards.

According to Focus Taiwan, Gllner stressed that communication should not be solely top-down but a societal imperative embraced by every individual. He noted that resilience efforts must take an approach rooted in duty and belonging, rather than fear. This commentary was part of an event marking the first anniversary of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, an ad-hoc advisory body focused on civil defense.

The forum also featured insights from U.K. Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones and Karin Lang, acting director of the American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) Taipei main office. Bradley-Jones underscored the role of “strategic communications” in maintaining public trust during emergencies and urged Taiwan to enhance its ability to transition from normal civilian structures to crisis response systems.

Lang advocated for improved coordination across different levels of government to strengthen Taiwan’s response to natural disasters and other risks. In response to these challenges, Taiwan conducted “Urban Resilience” exercises in July alongside traditional air-raid drills to mobilize civilians for emergency readiness, though participation levels varied across regions.

The involvement of envoys from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU at the forum, following their participation in recent military and civil defense exercises in Taiwan, signals increased global interest in Taiwan’s crisis management capabilities. President Lai Ching-te opened the forum by affirming Taiwan’s commitment to defending freedom and democracy while building a sustainable society and strengthening international ties amidst geopolitical tensions and climate challenges.