TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Wednesday that democracy, human rights, and freedom are not automatic and must be protected through civic action and dialogue.
Speaking at a forum organized by the Czech Center Taipei, Tsai thanked Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil for his strong support for Taiwan. She said his support, despite pressure, had moved many Taiwanese and deepened the friendship between Taiwan and Czechia, CNA reported.
Tsai said she first met former Czech President Vaclav Havel in Prague in 2004. Havel, a dissident playwright who later became president, visited Taiwan one month later and spoke about how students and citizens helped Czechia move from authoritarian rule to democracy.
Tsai said Havel’s philosophy of “living in truth” remains meaningful for democratic societies today. She said personal honesty and civic courage are important tools for resisting authoritarianism.
The former president said people, not only institutions, are the heart of democracy. She said people in Taiwan and Czechia believe they have the power to shape their common future.
Tsai said culture can also help defend dignity, freedom, and truth. She cited Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子) and translator Lin King (金翎), whose International Booker Prize win showed how literature can build dialogue and empathy across borders.
Tsai said Taiwan and Czechia have built a long friendship based on shared democratic values. She said both sides should keep learning from each other and strengthen ties between their people.
Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Vystrcil said Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996 marked a major step in its peaceful democratic change. He said Taiwan and Czechia share similar experiences because both moved toward democracy through peaceful means, per CNA.
“Freedom comes with responsibility,” Vystrcil said. He said security, resilience, and the rule of law are more important than short-term gains.
