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.

Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Taiwan is committed to safeguarding its democratic way of life and working with like-minded partners to deter China’s authoritarian expansion, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oct. 27.

The Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan kicked off Oct. 23 in Taipei City, underscoring government commitment to expanding ties with partner countries in the region, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a joint statement on October 25 in Washington, DC, reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing unilateral changes to the status quo, and calling for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force or coercion.