TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with a delegation from the US National Endowment for Democracy at the Presidential Office on Tuesday afternoon.
Lai spoke about the global spread of authoritarianism and the need for Taiwan to strengthen its self-defense. He said democratic partners should work together to build stable supply chains and enhance resilience, per CNA.
He pointed to Taiwan’s ranking as the top "full democracy" in Asia in the latest Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and second in Asia in Freedom House’s "Freedom in the World Report." Lai credited these achievements to the joint efforts of the Taiwanese people and the support of democratic allies worldwide.
He said Taiwan will continue cooperating with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and NED to promote democracy in the region. Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, Taiwan will also share experiences with like-minded partners such as the US, Japan, Australia, and Canada to strengthen democratic governance and social resilience.
Lai said that with the support of Wilson and NED, Taiwan will work with the global democratic community to consolidate democratic values and promote regional development.
He noted that his previous meeting with NED President Damon Wilson was two years ago at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy’s 20th anniversary symposium.
On his fourth visit to Taiwan as NED president, Wilson expressed admiration for Taiwan’s democratic achievements and noted years of collaboration with Taiwanese civic groups. He said NED has helped these groups build international partnerships, elevating Taiwan’s role in the global democratic network.
Wilson said he hopes to create more opportunities for Taiwan to appear on international platforms. US organizations such as the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute are setting up offices in Taiwan, he added.
He said Taiwanese groups can help the world better understand cognitive warfare and authoritarianism, and that he hopes to work with Taiwanese entrepreneurs to use AI and other technologies to ensure that the stories of Taiwan and Tibet are not erased, but heard by the world.
