Berlin: Former President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a keynote speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference, held as part of the inaugural Berlin Freedom Week in Germany. The conference, titled “Threats facing democracies: Taiwan’s experience defending freedom,” featured Tsai as a prominent speaker discussing the challenges democracies face and Taiwan’s resilience in defending freedom.

According to Focus Taiwan, Tsai expressed gratitude to the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, visitBerlin, and the World Liberty Congress for the invitation to speak, and thanked Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, for hosting the event. Tsai emphasized the importance of the Berlin Freedom Week, which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall, symbolizing democracy’s triumph over authoritarianism.

Tsai recounted Taiwan’s journey to democracy, highlighting the challenges faced under authoritarian rule, including limited media freedom and imprisonment of dissenters. She noted Taiwan’s transformation into a vibrant democracy, with its first democratic presidential election in 1996, and acknowledged the increasing threats to democracy worldwide.

Addressing recent global challenges, Tsai referenced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the spread of authoritarian tactics, including cognitive warfare and information manipulation, which Taiwan has also experienced. She stressed the importance of democracies adapting their strategies to enhance resilience against such threats.

Tsai highlighted Taiwan’s efforts in bolstering defense capabilities and societal resilience, noting significant investments in defense and cyber infrastructure. She underscored Taiwan’s commitment to regional stability and its role in the global semiconductor industry as essential to economic prosperity.

Concluding her speech, Tsai called for increased collaboration among democracies to safeguard freedom and democracy, emphasizing the importance of a united international stance in support of Taiwan. She expressed gratitude for international support and urged continued efforts to fortify democratic resilience globally.