François Chihchung Wu
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
August 5, 2025
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is an honor and a privilege to welcome you all to this year’s Ketagalan Forum—Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue.
Today, we are especially proud to host a figure whose presence speaks volumes about the importance of shared democratic values and the deepening bonds between free societies. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker: the Right Honorable Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
This occasion marks Mr. Johnson’s first visit to Taiwan. We are delighted to welcome him in a spirit of friendship and sincere respect.
Mr. Johnson served as UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022—a time of extraordinary global turbulence and transformation. His premiership was characterized by an unwavering conviction in the power of democracies to stand united in the face of threats—be they political, economic, or military.
Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, the United Kingdom took bold steps to reposition itself globally, most notably through the 2021 Integrated Review, which heralded Britain’s strategic “tilt” toward the Indo-Pacific. This reorientation acknowledged the region’s growing importance to worldwide peace and prosperity—and it paved the way for deeper cooperation with like-minded democracies, including Taiwan.
In particular, when the United Kingdom held the G7 presidency during Mr. Johnson’s term in 2021, the G7 Leaders’ Communiqué for the first time explicitly underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This marked a collective sharpening of the G7’s focus on Indo-Pacific affairs and represented a meaningful expression of support for Taiwan’s security and international presence. Taiwan deeply appreciated Mr. Johnson’s commitment to upholding democratic values and his role in fostering a more inclusive and rules-based international order.
Mr. Johnson has never shied away from speaking truth to power. He has been one of the clearest and most consistent voices in Europe in support of Taiwan’s democracy and in calling attention to rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait. His stance has underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in this vital region, and has contributed significantly to international awareness and resolve.
At the same time, Mr. Johnson has played a leading role on the global stage in responding to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. During his premiership, the United Kingdom moved swiftly to implement strong sanctions against Moscow, provide robust military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv, and rally international partners in defense of the principles of sovereignty and international law. His leadership on this issue demonstrated a profound commitment to collective security and democratic resilience.
But Mr. Johnson is more than a leader of consequence—he is also a powerful and persuasive communicator. His ability to link strategic vision with human values, and to speak candidly in defense of liberty, makes his voice a particularly vital one in today’s increasingly contested world.
As Taiwan continues to work with global partners to safeguard peace in the Indo-Pacific and uphold the rules-based international order, we are honored to count Mr. Johnson as a friend and supporter of Taiwan’s cause.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in extending a very warm welcome to our distinguished keynote speaker, the Right Honorable Boris Johnson.