President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han attends the opening ceremony of the 2024 East Asia Democracy Forum. President Han: Taiwan and its democratic partners continue to strive for the realization of the values of freedom and democracy.
On the morning of October 16, President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han, in his capacity as Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 East Asia Democracy Forum held at the Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei. Distinguished guests at the event included Executive Director of the Mongolian Women’s Fund (MONES) Agni Baljinnyam, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Executive Director Liao Da-Chi and Deputy Executive Director Lu Yeh-Chung, Executive Officer Yeh Shou-Shan of the Legislative Yuan, Associate Professor Wei Bai-Ku of the Graduate Institute of Russian Studies and Associate Professor Wang Yun of the Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies at National Chengchi University, Research Fellow and Executive Editor at the Prospect Foundation J. Michael Cole, Regional Director of the Asia Centre Dr. James Gomez, and Undarya Tumursukh from the International Rescue Committee, as well as democracy advocates and representatives from civil society organizations around the world. The event was marked by a lively atmosphere.
In his speech, President Han first expressed that, on behalf of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, he welcomed all the distinguished guests to the 2024 East Asia Democracy Forum. President Han noted that it had been five years since the forum was last held in person in 2019. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years, many international conferences and events were conducted online. He regretted that people were unable to meet and interact in person. However, now that the pandemic has gradually subsided, everyone can once again come together. He added that it was a great honor and joy to meet with all of the guests face-to-face today.
President Han further stated that the East Asia Democracy Forum has always played an active and crucial role in sustaining the civil society network in Asia. By continuously organizing executive committee meetings, international conferences, workshops, and other activities each year, the forum promotes freedom and democracy in Asia, providing a platform for democracy practitioners from various countries to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and empower civil society. The forum, founded in 2014, has now reached its 10th anniversary, steadfastly upholding its commitment to democratic ideals and values.
President Han continued, noting that in recent years, East Asia, much like other regions worldwide, has seen its democratic order and values profoundly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign interference, and digital technology. Nevertheless, the enduring commitment to democracy among the people, coupled with the inexhaustible vitality of civil society across nations, has empowered them to surmount these adversities time and again. President Han emphasized that today's reunion is no mere coincidence; it is the tangible result of collaborative efforts by civil societies in various countries, including Taiwan, to defend and uphold democracy.
President Han mentioned that Taiwan's democratic achievements are widely recognized, with major professional think tanks around the world highly praising Taiwan's democracy. First, the prominent American nonprofit think tank Freedom House, in its "Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report," pointed out that although Taiwan is significantly affected by foreign influences, it achieved a score of 38 in "political rights" and an impressive 56 in "civil liberties," resulting in a total score of 94. Taiwan continues to be classified as a free country, ranking second in Asia, just behind Japan. Furthermore, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg, in its Democracy Report 2024, stated that Taiwan ranked 31st globally in the liberal democracy index (LDI) for 2023, making it the second in Asia, just behind Japan.
President Han affirmed that Taiwan's remarkable democratic achievements have deeply rooted the values of liberal democracy in the hearts of the people, resulting in a society with a high degree of resilience. During the pandemic, the people of Taiwan adhered to various health protocols and demonstrated a high level of media literacy, effectively debunking numerous false rumors about the virus. Different sectors of society each fulfilled their roles, showcasing significant social resilience in their efforts to protect their homeland and swiftly emerge from the shadow of the pandemic.
President Han expressed his hope that this year's forum, themed "Strengthening Democratic Resilience," will ensure that democracy remains steadfast in the face of contemporary challenges posed by external forces and emerging technologies. He expressed the hope that this forum would unite regional democratic partners to collectively confront the coercion from external forces, discuss contemporary issues related to emerging technologies, and engage in brainstorming sessions to explore solutions.
In closing, President Han reiterated that as the Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, he is grateful to all the distinguished guests for taking the time out of their busy schedules to attend this year's East Asia Democracy Forum. Everyone present is a leading expert in their field, and through dialogue, he believes that even more beautiful ideas will emerge and fruitful outcomes will be achieved. He extended his thanks to all the partners of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and wished for the forum's great success, as well as good health and all the best to the attending guests. Following this, President Han took a group photo with the distinguished guests, after which a series of activities for the East Asia Democracy Forum commenced.
In his speech, President Han first expressed that, on behalf of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, he welcomed all the distinguished guests to the 2024 East Asia Democracy Forum. President Han noted that it had been five years since the forum was last held in person in 2019. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years, many international conferences and events were conducted online. He regretted that people were unable to meet and interact in person. However, now that the pandemic has gradually subsided, everyone can once again come together. He added that it was a great honor and joy to meet with all of the guests face-to-face today.
President Han further stated that the East Asia Democracy Forum has always played an active and crucial role in sustaining the civil society network in Asia. By continuously organizing executive committee meetings, international conferences, workshops, and other activities each year, the forum promotes freedom and democracy in Asia, providing a platform for democracy practitioners from various countries to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and empower civil society. The forum, founded in 2014, has now reached its 10th anniversary, steadfastly upholding its commitment to democratic ideals and values.
President Han continued, noting that in recent years, East Asia, much like other regions worldwide, has seen its democratic order and values profoundly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign interference, and digital technology. Nevertheless, the enduring commitment to democracy among the people, coupled with the inexhaustible vitality of civil society across nations, has empowered them to surmount these adversities time and again. President Han emphasized that today's reunion is no mere coincidence; it is the tangible result of collaborative efforts by civil societies in various countries, including Taiwan, to defend and uphold democracy.
President Han mentioned that Taiwan's democratic achievements are widely recognized, with major professional think tanks around the world highly praising Taiwan's democracy. First, the prominent American nonprofit think tank Freedom House, in its "Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report," pointed out that although Taiwan is significantly affected by foreign influences, it achieved a score of 38 in "political rights" and an impressive 56 in "civil liberties," resulting in a total score of 94. Taiwan continues to be classified as a free country, ranking second in Asia, just behind Japan. Furthermore, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg, in its Democracy Report 2024, stated that Taiwan ranked 31st globally in the liberal democracy index (LDI) for 2023, making it the second in Asia, just behind Japan.
President Han affirmed that Taiwan's remarkable democratic achievements have deeply rooted the values of liberal democracy in the hearts of the people, resulting in a society with a high degree of resilience. During the pandemic, the people of Taiwan adhered to various health protocols and demonstrated a high level of media literacy, effectively debunking numerous false rumors about the virus. Different sectors of society each fulfilled their roles, showcasing significant social resilience in their efforts to protect their homeland and swiftly emerge from the shadow of the pandemic.
President Han expressed his hope that this year's forum, themed "Strengthening Democratic Resilience," will ensure that democracy remains steadfast in the face of contemporary challenges posed by external forces and emerging technologies. He expressed the hope that this forum would unite regional democratic partners to collectively confront the coercion from external forces, discuss contemporary issues related to emerging technologies, and engage in brainstorming sessions to explore solutions.
In closing, President Han reiterated that as the Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, he is grateful to all the distinguished guests for taking the time out of their busy schedules to attend this year's East Asia Democracy Forum. Everyone present is a leading expert in their field, and through dialogue, he believes that even more beautiful ideas will emerge and fruitful outcomes will be achieved. He extended his thanks to all the partners of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and wished for the forum's great success, as well as good health and all the best to the attending guests. Following this, President Han took a group photo with the distinguished guests, after which a series of activities for the East Asia Democracy Forum commenced.