At Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Premier Chen Chien-jen received a briefing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Development Council on Taiwan’s participation in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The premier said that this year’s APEC economic leaders’ and ministerial meetings saw fruitful results and the premier extended his special thanks to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. founder Morris Chang for representing Taiwan at APEC for a seventh year.

An international workshop on protecting human rights in the digital age was held Nov. 15-17 in Taipei City under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, reflecting Taiwan’s commitment to working with like-minded partners to promote internet freedom, advance norms and safeguards for artificial intelligence, counter misuse of surveillance technology and strengthen digital inclusion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 2023 NGO Leaders Forum Nov. 17 in Taipei City, highlighting the international achievements of Taiwan’s government agencies and nongovernmental organizations and providing a platform for NGOs to expand collaboration with the public sector.

During remarks to the press on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 16, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stated that the United States was committed to doing what was necessary to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to stage the 2023 NGO Leaders Forum Nov. 17 in Taipei City, spotlighting the international achievements of Taiwan’s government agencies and nongovernmental organizations and providing a platform for NGOs to collaborate with the public sector.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Taiwan will leave no stone unturned to prevent conflict despite China’s escalating military threats and economic coercion.

A Diwali celebration—the Hindu Festival of Lights—was held Nov. 5 at Yanping Riverside Park in Taipei City, spotlighting the growing friendship between Taiwan and New Southbound Policy country India.

To promote cultural dialogue with countries encompassed by the New Southbound Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent the Taipei City-based Diabolo Dance Theatre to perform in the Philippines and Brunei in October.

Filmmakers from around the world were recognized at the Oct. 31 award ceremony in Taipei City for the Trending Taiwan Short Film Competition, an annual event organized by the Department of International Information Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu participated in an academic webinar Oct. 30 from Taipei City in which he warned of the impact of instability in the Taiwan Strait and called for democracies to deter authoritarian expansion.