Dignitaries from around the world are gathering in Taipei for the annual Yushan Forum, a rare chance for Taiwan to engage in much-needed diplomacy.
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00:00This is the Yushan Forum, a meeting of global dignitaries here in Taipei hosted by Taiwan's
00:06foreign ministry. Now in its eighth year, the annual two-day meeting looks to build
00:12bridges across the Indo-Pacific, raise Taiwan's voice in the region and lessen economic reliance
00:18on China.
00:20President Lai Ching-de says this push should now include like-minded countries further
00:24afield. This year, a number of important figures from Europe attended, warning of new
00:29geopolitical uncertainties under US President Donald Trump.
00:34Since January, the relationship has become increasingly transactional. President Trump
00:46sees the world in terms of three power centres – Washington, Beijing and Moscow. We need
01:00to ask what that means for countries like Taiwan.
01:07Taiwan uses this forum to push its soft power and foster people-to-people connections, highlighting
01:13its position as a high-tech hub that can use semiconductors, artificial intelligence
01:18and quantum technology for good.
01:21Taiwan is intent on working side-by-side with other countries to face the challenges of
01:29this new era. Today's Taiwan celebrates not only the democratic achievements that are
01:37recognised by the international community, but also our strength in the semiconductor
01:44and tech industries, which enable us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic
01:52supply chains and economic order.
01:57Taiwan faces an uphill battle in engaging in important diplomacy like this. China, which
02:03claims Taiwan as part of its territory, hits out at other countries for engaging with Taiwan
02:08diplomatically. But the messages from this forum are clear – that the world order is
02:13in flux, authoritarian leaders are emboldened and like-minded countries must stick together.
02:20Klein Wang and Rick Lowatt in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.