President Lai Ching-te received a delegation comprising members of the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy and its core partners at the Presidential Office July 7 in Taipei City.
According to the PO, the group is led by NED President and CEO Damon Wilson, who is in Taiwan for the fifth time since 2022, when he visited as the first stop of his first Asian tour as head of the Washington D.C.-based nongovernment organization.
Lai said 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. and the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. On opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, the two are united by the shared values of freedom and democracy and work together to address global challenges, he added.
The president said China’s military activities and gray-zone incursions in the Taiwan Strait and against neighboring countries cause a serious impact on regional peace and stability, while its extensive transnational repression and surveillance alarm the international community.
Taiwan is steadily bolstering its self-defense capabilities and enhancing resilience in the local economy, technology and energy, the president said. It also cooperates with the U.S. and other democratic partners, Lai said and looked forward to sharing experience with NED delegates to better respond to the challenges of expanding authoritarianism.
In response, Wilson praised Taiwan as one of the world’s great democratic success stories, adding that its people have built a vibrant democracy, competitive elections and a dynamic civil society.
The NED is proud to welcome delegates from over 70 countries to Taiwan this week for a summit to share Taiwan’s experience with democracy advocates and strengthen partnerships to advance freedom, he added. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
According to the PO, the group is led by NED President and CEO Damon Wilson, who is in Taiwan for the fifth time since 2022, when he visited as the first stop of his first Asian tour as head of the Washington D.C.-based nongovernment organization.
Lai said 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. and the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. On opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, the two are united by the shared values of freedom and democracy and work together to address global challenges, he added.
The president said China’s military activities and gray-zone incursions in the Taiwan Strait and against neighboring countries cause a serious impact on regional peace and stability, while its extensive transnational repression and surveillance alarm the international community.
Taiwan is steadily bolstering its self-defense capabilities and enhancing resilience in the local economy, technology and energy, the president said. It also cooperates with the U.S. and other democratic partners, Lai said and looked forward to sharing experience with NED delegates to better respond to the challenges of expanding authoritarianism.
In response, Wilson praised Taiwan as one of the world’s great democratic success stories, adding that its people have built a vibrant democracy, competitive elections and a dynamic civil society.
The NED is proud to welcome delegates from over 70 countries to Taiwan this week for a summit to share Taiwan’s experience with democracy advocates and strengthen partnerships to advance freedom, he added. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News