The International Workshop on Defending Democracy through Media Literacy got underway Oct. 18 in Taipei City, demonstrating the commitment of Taiwan and the U.S. to helping freedom-loving nations in the Indo-Pacific mitigate the impact of disinformation campaigns.
 
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Institute in Taiwan and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the two-day event is a key initiative under the Taiwan-U.S. Global Cooperation Training Framework.
 
According to organizers, the workshop is attended by experts, officials and media representatives from 12 countries and territories. These include MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Busby and AIT Director Brent Christensen.
 
During Wu’s opening remarks, he said Taiwan is a front-line state combating disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing discord and disrupting society. This workshop is a strong step in the right direction when it comes to marshalling forces and fighting such cynical tactics, he added.
 
As a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific, Wu said Taiwan is committed to taking the lead on issues like media literacy and will seek to share information, contribute its strengths and work more closely with like-minded partners and countries from around the region.
 
Echoing Wu’s strong sentiments, Busby said disinformation is a threat to all democracies as it seeks to undermine the appeal of democracy itself. In the Indo-Pacific, it has been used to instigate human rights violations and erode democratic governance, he added.
 
Effectively countering falsehoods is essential to protecting democracy and upholding national security, Busby said, adding that the U.S. will continue to support efforts to bolster civil society and promote media literacy in the region and across the globe.
 
Busby also reiterated the deep appreciation of the U.S. for Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, its respect for fundamental freedoms and strong commitment to the rule of law. At a time of great challenges, it is especially important that the two sides stand together in promoting a brighter future free of repression, censorship and exploitation, he added.
 
The workshop is the 13th staged by Taiwan and the U.S. since the inception of the GCTF in June 2015, with topics spanning disaster relief, e-commerce, education, energy, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance, public health and women’s empowerment. To date, more than 240 representatives from 33 countries and territories have participated in these events, according to the MOFA. (SFC-E)

Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw