Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han meets with delegation from the National Endowment for Democracy. President Han: We are grateful to the National Endowment for Democracy's for their longstanding support of Taiwan's democratic development.
On the afternoon of December 18 at 2:00 PM, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by Legislators Ko Ju-Chun and Chang Chi-Kai, Deputy Director of the Department of International Affairs Yang Fang-Ling, and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy President Liao Da-Chi and Vice President Lu Yeh-Chung, met with a delegation of two representatives from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
President Han began by warmly welcoming the visiting delegation and, after taking a group photo with the attending legislators and guests, expressed his strong support for collaborative development projects between Taiwan and the NED. As both the President of the Legislative Yuan and the Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, President Han highlighted his commitment to fostering these partnerships. He noted that the NED, established in 1983 with over 40 years of history, has made significant contributions to the development and strengthening of democratic systems worldwide, earning great respect from legislators across Taiwan's political spectrum. President Han further remarked that Taiwan's political system has undergone a unique transition from authoritarianism to democracy and that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is the first national-level democracy foundation in Asia. He expressed his willingness to contribute to the consolidation of Taiwan’s democratic institutions and emphasized that the Legislative Yuan will serve as a robust supporter of the NED. He noted that while Taiwan's legislators may clash over legislative proposals, they stand unified in their approach to issues regarding foreign affairs and national defense, as they prioritize the nation’s interests and the pursuit of democracy and freedom above all else. President Han reaffirmed his commitment to advancing cooperation with the NED and building a steadfast democratic alliance.
NED Vice President Brian Joseph, serving as the delegation leader, expressed his gratitude to President Han and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with the delegation. He noted the close relationship between the NED and Taiwan, highlighting Taiwan's unique role as a leader among democratic nations with its distinctive political system and historical development. He emphasized that the various initiatives promoted by the NED rely on the support of regional allies. He expressed hope that Taiwan will strengthen its connections with the Asia-Pacific region, enabling democratic allies to collaborate more closely. He believed that such efforts will have a profound impact and yield significant benefits, helping to foster positive outcomes in the promotion of democracy.
During the bilateral exchange, Legislator Ko Ju-Chun shared his insights on the diversity inherent to democracy. Drawing from his extensive experience in the technology sector, he expressed his aspiration to leverage AI and other emerging technologies to promote democratic development in modern ways. He hoped to be able to utilize platforms such as social media to build innovative tools for safeguarding Taiwan's democracy. Legislator Ko also shared his experience as the convener of KMT Studio, where he worked with online digital platforms to provide young people with opportunities to connect and learn from the world, broadening their perspectives on international affairs. He emphasized his hope to support the younger generation and position Taiwan as an exporter of democratic values.
Legislator Chang Chi-Kai next expressed his gratitude to the NED for its longstanding support of Taiwan's democratic system. He mentioned Taiwan's recent concerns regarding the impact of President Donald Trump’s new administration on issues such as Taiwan-U.S. tariffs, trade, and defense. He then discussed South Korea's recent brief imposition of martial law, which was reversed through the efforts of its parliament and citizens, marking a significant step forward for South Korea’s democracy. Legislator Chang also took the opportunity to thank Taiwan Foundation for Democracy President Liao Da-Chi and Vice President Lu Yeh-Chung for their dedication to advancing Taiwan's democracy. He expressed hope for deeper exchanges and interactions between Taiwan and the U.S. in the future.
NED Director Lynn Lee shared that she has visited Taiwan multiple times and has always been deeply impressed by the vibrancy of Taiwan's democracy, saying how she often finds herself amazed by the robust and thriving spirit of democratic values in Taiwan. She stated that the NED will continue to promote democratic development in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed her hope that Taiwan, with its wealth of experience, can contribute to democratization efforts worldwide. She also looked forward to deeper collaboration and exchanges between the NED and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Director Lee then invited President Han to visit the NED during his future trips to the U.S., hoping to strengthen the bond between the two organizations.
The two sides engaged in extensive discussions on topics such as digital democracy, Taiwan-U.S. relations, post-election U.S. political and economic developments, and South Korea's recent martial law incident. The atmosphere of the meeting was warm and cordial, lasting approximately 40 minutes. To conclude the meeting, President Han presented the guests with a special Commemorative Legislative Yuan Kaoliang Liquor with his signature on the bottles as a gesture of gratitude for the organization's longstanding support for Taiwan, bringing the meeting to a successful close.
President Han began by warmly welcoming the visiting delegation and, after taking a group photo with the attending legislators and guests, expressed his strong support for collaborative development projects between Taiwan and the NED. As both the President of the Legislative Yuan and the Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, President Han highlighted his commitment to fostering these partnerships. He noted that the NED, established in 1983 with over 40 years of history, has made significant contributions to the development and strengthening of democratic systems worldwide, earning great respect from legislators across Taiwan's political spectrum. President Han further remarked that Taiwan's political system has undergone a unique transition from authoritarianism to democracy and that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is the first national-level democracy foundation in Asia. He expressed his willingness to contribute to the consolidation of Taiwan’s democratic institutions and emphasized that the Legislative Yuan will serve as a robust supporter of the NED. He noted that while Taiwan's legislators may clash over legislative proposals, they stand unified in their approach to issues regarding foreign affairs and national defense, as they prioritize the nation’s interests and the pursuit of democracy and freedom above all else. President Han reaffirmed his commitment to advancing cooperation with the NED and building a steadfast democratic alliance.
NED Vice President Brian Joseph, serving as the delegation leader, expressed his gratitude to President Han and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with the delegation. He noted the close relationship between the NED and Taiwan, highlighting Taiwan's unique role as a leader among democratic nations with its distinctive political system and historical development. He emphasized that the various initiatives promoted by the NED rely on the support of regional allies. He expressed hope that Taiwan will strengthen its connections with the Asia-Pacific region, enabling democratic allies to collaborate more closely. He believed that such efforts will have a profound impact and yield significant benefits, helping to foster positive outcomes in the promotion of democracy.
During the bilateral exchange, Legislator Ko Ju-Chun shared his insights on the diversity inherent to democracy. Drawing from his extensive experience in the technology sector, he expressed his aspiration to leverage AI and other emerging technologies to promote democratic development in modern ways. He hoped to be able to utilize platforms such as social media to build innovative tools for safeguarding Taiwan's democracy. Legislator Ko also shared his experience as the convener of KMT Studio, where he worked with online digital platforms to provide young people with opportunities to connect and learn from the world, broadening their perspectives on international affairs. He emphasized his hope to support the younger generation and position Taiwan as an exporter of democratic values.
Legislator Chang Chi-Kai next expressed his gratitude to the NED for its longstanding support of Taiwan's democratic system. He mentioned Taiwan's recent concerns regarding the impact of President Donald Trump’s new administration on issues such as Taiwan-U.S. tariffs, trade, and defense. He then discussed South Korea's recent brief imposition of martial law, which was reversed through the efforts of its parliament and citizens, marking a significant step forward for South Korea’s democracy. Legislator Chang also took the opportunity to thank Taiwan Foundation for Democracy President Liao Da-Chi and Vice President Lu Yeh-Chung for their dedication to advancing Taiwan's democracy. He expressed hope for deeper exchanges and interactions between Taiwan and the U.S. in the future.
NED Director Lynn Lee shared that she has visited Taiwan multiple times and has always been deeply impressed by the vibrancy of Taiwan's democracy, saying how she often finds herself amazed by the robust and thriving spirit of democratic values in Taiwan. She stated that the NED will continue to promote democratic development in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed her hope that Taiwan, with its wealth of experience, can contribute to democratization efforts worldwide. She also looked forward to deeper collaboration and exchanges between the NED and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Director Lee then invited President Han to visit the NED during his future trips to the U.S., hoping to strengthen the bond between the two organizations.
The two sides engaged in extensive discussions on topics such as digital democracy, Taiwan-U.S. relations, post-election U.S. political and economic developments, and South Korea's recent martial law incident. The atmosphere of the meeting was warm and cordial, lasting approximately 40 minutes. To conclude the meeting, President Han presented the guests with a special Commemorative Legislative Yuan Kaoliang Liquor with his signature on the bottles as a gesture of gratitude for the organization's longstanding support for Taiwan, bringing the meeting to a successful close.