Minister Lin delivers his remarks
 

Minister Lin (right) presents a gift to delegation leader Executive Director Kanehara (left)
 

Minister Lin poses for a group photo with the delegation and other guests
 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a banquet for a 12-member delegation from the Japan-based think tank Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the US-based think tank Institute for Indo-Pacific Security on the evening of November 14. The delegation, visiting Taiwan to attend a tabletop exercise organized by Taiwan’s Prospect Foundation, included Sasakawa Peace Foundation Executive Director Nobukatsu Kanehara and Institute for Indo-Pacific Security Chairman Randall G. Schriver. Prospect Foundation Chairman Chen Tan-sun, Prospect Foundation President Lai I-chung, and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan were also invited to the event, where they exchanged views with the delegation on Taiwan Strait and regional security issues.

In his remarks, Minister Lin expressed gratitude to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security for their long-standing support and contributions to Taiwan, saying that he hoped the dinner would be an opportunity to exchange perspectives on such issues of shared concern as regional security. He emphasized that Taiwan played an important role in upholding the values of peace, democracy, and freedom and had always sought to promote regional stability and shared development, adding that Taiwan was willing to shoulder associated responsibilities and continued to be an influential stakeholder on the international stage.

Minister Lin went on to point out that the international outlook was serious—not least due to China’s increasing diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Taiwan. Noting that Taiwan Legislator Puma Shen had recently been placed under investigation by Chinese agencies for engaging in so-called “secession-related” activities, Minister Lin said that this highlighted China’s use of transnational repression to intimidate and pressure Taiwan. He said that, in response, Taiwan would remain unwavering in its commitment to defending freedom and democracy alongside fellow democracies.

Under its policy of integrated diplomacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to cooperate with like-minded democratic partners so as to jointly safeguard regional security and the stability of global supply chains. In recent years, Taiwan’s cooperation with the United States and Japan has grown closer in such areas as politics, economics, technology, and culture, contributing meaningfully to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. (E)