October 11, 2023
No. 338
The first day of the seventh Yushan Forum was held at the Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei on October 11. President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony. President of the Republic of Nauru Russ Joseph Kun, Chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Furuya Keiji, US Senior Official for APEC Ambassador Matt Murray, former Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft spoke at the opening ceremony. The latter two also delivered keynote speeches. Prominent political figures, scholars and experts, and opinion leaders from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, India, New Zealand, and European nations also took part in the event to jointly discuss a new blueprint for Asian development.
During her address, President Tsai thanked the participants for coming to Taiwan to attend the forum and showing their countries’ strong support for Taiwan. President Tsai stated that the New Southbound Policy has advanced Taiwan’s bonds with partner countries to unprecedented heights over the past seven years. She further explained that significant progress had been made in cooperation on trade, investment, medical care, agriculture, tourism, and academic exchange. President Tsai noted that the New Southbound Policy formed the heart of Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific strategy and that Taiwan was part of the solution to the challenges facing the region. She added that Taiwan had proven to the world that it was a highly reliable, secure, and trustworthy partner in responding to the threats of authoritarianism and climate change and in addressing the global restructuring of supply chains. She further stated that Taiwan’s firm stance would help ensure the peace and prosperity of the world.
In his remarks, President Kun recognized Taiwan’s key role in such areas as technology, innovation, the economy, trade, and regional security, as well as its great potential in laying out a new blueprint for Asian development. He noted that Taiwan’s advanced technological capabilities and strategic position had made it an excellent location to be a hub for trade and investment in Asia. President Kun also thanked Taiwan for supporting and contributing to Nauru’s national development and sustainability. He said that Taiwan had long been a staunch partner of Nauru and that Nauru would continue to fully support Taiwan’s international participation.
Chairman Furuya stated that it was a great honor to have been invited to the Yushan Forum for six years in a row. He noted that the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council had consistently advocated for Japanese support of Taiwan’s bids to participate in international organizations and agreements such as the World Health Organization and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Chairman Furuya fully concurred with the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s sentiment that “a Taiwan emergency would be an emergency for Japan,” further stressing that Taiwan-Japan relations were extremely close. Chairman Furuya reiterated the importance of defending Taiwan and called on all countries upholding the values of freedom and democracy to join forces in defending world peace and Taiwan’s security. He declared that, “I am also Taiwanese.”
During her keynote speech at the event’s luncheon, Ambassador Craft stressed that Taiwan was a sovereign country, that its citizens had the right to choose their own destiny, and that authoritarian China could not claim otherwise. Ambassador Craft reiterated that the United States should attach importance to Taiwan’s security and support Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations and other international organizations.
Former Prime Minister Morrison repeatedly stressed Taiwan’s importance to the world and said that countries in the region should create a resilient force of deterrence, protect Taiwan’s security, and defend the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo to prevent conflict and to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Ambassador Murray stated that this year APEC was focusing on strengthening supply chain resilience and that the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting would take place in November in San Francisco. He also echoed President Tsai’s comment that Taiwan was an important component to finding solutions to global challenges and played a critical role in APEC efforts to promote sustainability.
Former New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser and member of the Indian Parliament Sujeet Kumar also delivered remarks, voicing support for Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy.
The Yushan Forum serves as an important platform for prominent political figures and friends of Taiwan from New Southbound Policy partner countries and like-minded nations to engage in dialogue regarding the New Southbound Policy and their countries’ Indo-Pacific strategies. This year’s Yushan Forum is being held on October 11 and 12. The first day covered government endeavors. On the second day, the Prospect Asia Roundtable will be held and civil society sessions will take place. Outside the venue, two exhibitions are being held. The first exhibition highlights the outcomes of the New Southbound Policy achieved over the last seven years by Taiwan’s government ministries. The second exhibition, in which the representative offices of Southeast Asian countries are participating, focuses on Taiwan’s exchanges with partner countries. Members of the public are welcome to visit these exhibitions. (E)