TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan concluded its fourth U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region on Tuesday (March 26).

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) press release on Wednesday (March 27), the event was held in Taipei, with Washington-based U.S. counterparts connected via conference call, per CNA. The meeting covered the challenges democratic countries face against authoritarian countries.

Representatives from the U.S. side included Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the U.S. Department of State Allison Peters as well as officials from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Deputy Foreign Minister Hsieh Wu-chiao (謝武樵), who presided over the meeting, discussed the cognitive warfare and false information tactics used by authoritarian countries. “These challenges and threats have prompted vigilance and unity among democratic countries,” he said.

“Based on shared democratic, freedom, and rule of law values, Taiwan and the U.S. will continue to deepen their partnership,” Hsieh said. “In the future, Taiwan will also work to promote collaboration with like-minded countries in both the public and private sectors to contribute more to creating a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

“This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act,” MOFA said. “As a member of the international democratic community, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with the U.S. in the future,” it added.

First held in 2019, the U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region is an annual meeting for Taiwan and the U.S. to pursue policy that promotes freedom and human rights.