Taiwan President: "Taiwan, a Bastion of Freedom and Democracy"

President Tsai Ing-wen: Taiwan and Hong Kong Are Beacons of Freedom and Democracy in the Chinese Sphere
Discussion on U.S. Underwater Mines and Cruise Missile Acquisition

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen reaffirmed her stance on supporting Hong Kong people, stating that "Taiwan will serve as a stronghold of freedom and democracy."

According to Taiwan media Liberty Times on the 13th, President Tsai made this statement during a virtual conference co-hosted by the U.S. think tank Hudson Institute and the Center for American Progress (CAP) the previous day, in a speech titled "Taiwan's Defense is the Bastion of Freedom in the Indo-Pacific Region."

This speech came after the highest-level visit since the severance of diplomatic ties in 1979, when U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited Taiwan for a three-night, four-day trip.

The speech is interpreted as Taiwan, a democratic system, expressing its willingness to take an active role amid the U.S. efforts to build an anti-China coalition in the Indo-Pacific region by distinguishing the Chinese Communist Party from the free world.

President Tsai particularly stated that Taiwan would support Hong Kong's freedom and democracy amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China following the enforcement of the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law).

She emphasized, "Taiwan will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Hong Kong to protect freedom and democracy, establish relevant departments for support, and assist Hong Kong people in settling in Taiwan."

Meanwhile, Taiwan's representative to the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, stated at the event that discussions with the U.S. are underway regarding the introduction of underwater mines and cruise missiles. Mines are necessary to prepare for China's amphibious assault, and cruise missiles are needed for Taiwan's coastal defense.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.