Press Release

The Legislative Yuan

October 25, 2022

President You attends the opening ceremony of the 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy

You Si-kun: Taiwan is at the center of defending the democratic way of life.

Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun attended the opening ceremony of the 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy on the morning of October 25. President Tsai Ing-wen was also present and delivered remarks. World Movement for Democracy Steering Committee Chairperson Maria Ressa, US National Endowment for Democracy Chairman Kenneth Wollack, US National Endowment for Democracy President and CEO Damon Wilson, Republic of China (Taiwan) Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy Chairperson Chang Yu-meng, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy President Huang Yu-lin, and the representatives of several countries were present.

On behalf of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Legislative Yuan, President You welcomed the distinguished foreign guests. It was an honor, he said, for Taiwan to organize this face-to-face general assembly for the first time since the pandemic had subsided. He stated that the assembly was being held in response to 62 concrete commitments put forth by US President Joe Biden at the Summit for Democracy to show that Taiwan is a reliable democratic partner. The assembly is an international democracy-related event that followed closely on the Open Parliament Forum in December 2021 and shows that Taiwan is once again recognized by the international commuinity. As a Taiwanese, he is very proud of this accomplishment.

President You then noted that the theme for the general assembly was significant. It demonstrated the need for democracies to remain united and to cooperate, especially when facing the challenges of the pandemic, climate change, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He stated that during his meeting with the organization’s President Damon Wilson in March this year, they agreed that democracy is a shared belief. Democracies should should continue to cooperate and fight autocracy. He continued that having Taiwan host the general assembly of the World Movement for Democracy is fitting, given that Taiwan is on the front lines of defending democracy, just as Ukraine faces off against Russia. When one’s neighboring country is an authoritarian regime harboring an ambition to invade, and when it lacks internal checks and balances, it is dangerous to let such nations get their way. Therefore, demcoratic countries need to make authoritarian nations understand that they will pay a painful and costly price if they invade free and democratic countries.    

President You continued by saying that the Russia-Ukraine war provides an opportunity for the democratic alliance to reflect on and recognize the fragility of democracy in its fight against authoritarianism. He pointed out that since Taiwan began pursuing democracy a century ago, it has promoted human rights protections, gender equality, and the diversification of civil society, particularly since the end of martial law in the 1980s. Taiwan’s achievements have been recognized in the 2021 Global Democracy Index published by the Eonomist Intelligence Unit, in which it was ranked 8th globally and first in Asia. Taiwan was, meanwhile, ranked 17th overall and second in Asia in the Freedom in the World 2022 report by Freedom House. Such rankings fully testify to the international recognition of Taiwan’s efforts. President You reiterated that Taiwan cherishes its free and democratic way of life and will continue to promote human rights and democracy.   

President You concluded by sharing a hope that all participants would fully express themselves and support the creation of a robust network of democratic exchanges. He also hoped that they would enjoy Taiwan’s delicacies, beautiful scenery, and friendly people. He wished that democracy would continue to thrive. President You left the venue following President Tsai’s speech and posing for a group photo.

A translation of President You’s remarks follows:

General Assembly Chairperson Ressa, National Endowment for Democracy Chairman Wollack, National Endowment for Democracy President Wilson, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy Chairperson Chang, President Tsai, Foreign Minister Wu, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy President Huang, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: Good morning!

First of all, on behalf of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Legislative Yuan, I want to welcome our distinguished foreign guests. We are honored to be organizaing this first face-to-face general assembly following the pandemic. In early 2022, Taiwan reponded to one of the 62 concrete commitments proposed by US President Joe Biden at the Summit for Democracy by hosting this general assembly to demonstrate that Taiwan is a reliable democratic partner.

This is the 11th General Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy. More than 200 democracy advocates from 70 countries are here to exchange opinions and learn from each other at this historic event. This international democracy-related assembly follows closely on the Open Parliament Forum, which we hosted in December 2021. It means that Taiwan is once again recognized by the international community, which makes me proud as a Taiwanese.

The theme this year, “Claiming the Democratic Future: Unifying Voices for a New Frontier,” has profound significance. In February, the Russian invasion of Ukraine proved catastrophic for a world struggling with the pandemic and climate change. It was also an alarm for the global community of democracies. Cooperation and solidarity among members of the democratic camp is more important now than ever before. When I met with President Wilson in March this year, we agreed that democracy is our shared belief and that we must continue to deepen and consolidate cooperation in fighting authoritarian regimes.

As such, I believe that no other country is more suited to hosting the general assembly of the World Movement for Democracy. Taiwan has attracted global attention since the beginning of the Russian-Ukraine war. Taiwan’s neighbor has the same ambitions for territory as does Russia. This authoritarian regime claims sovereignty over our country. It is likely that they will try to get their way, as they do not have the checks and balances that are a feature of democracy. The Ukrainian people are boldly fighting the Russian invasion. The democratic alliance must work with them and show backbone, such that authoritarian regimes understand that any nation that dares invade a free and democratic country will pay a painful and costly price; this may deter aggression.

This war has inspired the global democratic alliance to reflect on and recognize the fragility of democratic institutions and the necessity of fighting authoritarian polities. All of us know that the threat posed by authoritarian regimes is real. Democracy needs to be defended. Taiwan is on the front line defending our democratic way of life.

Taiwan has pursued democracy for a century. Taiwan has promoted human rights, gender equality, and a diverse civil society and other like measures since the end of martial law in the 1980s. In early 2022, Taiwan was ranked 8th globally and first in Asia in the 2021 Global Democracy Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Moreover, Taiwan was ranked 17th and second in Asia in the Freedom in the World 2022 report released by Freedom House. Such rankings testify to international recognition of Taiwan’s efforts. Taiwan cherishes its free and democratic way of life and will continue to promote human rights and democracy.