Daniel Kuo-ching Chen
Secretary General of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
May 8, 2026
(As Delivered)
Minister Lin, distinguished guests, and friends from around the world:
Good morning!
On behalf of Foreign Minister LIN, Chia-lung, a very warm welcome to all of you. Thank you for joining us for MOFA’s first-ever international forum on Transnational Repression (TNR).
We are here today because the message from authoritarian regimes is clear: they want to silence dissent, no matter where it lives. But our message is even clearer: in the face of interference and hybrid threats, the democratic community will not stay silent. We stand together.
The numbers are staggering. Freedom House has tracked over 1,300 cases of TNR in the last decade. This isn't just about statistics; it’s about real people being hunted across borders. Today, these regimes aren't just using physical threats; they are weaponizing AI, big data, and disinformation to sow fear and destabilize our societies.
Perhaps most concerning is the rise and spread of "Legal Warfare.", which blurs the line between rule of law and “rule by law”. Authoritarian states are now abusing international tools—like INTERPOL Red notices—to target individuals abroad. They are trying to turn the rule of law into a weapon of control.
As a frontline democracy, Taiwan knows this pressure all too well. From groundless investigations into our legislators to labeling our officials as "die hard independence separatists" and threatening with "lifelong accountability," Beijing’s goal is simple: to spread fear and undermine our sovereignty.
But Taiwan has not retreated. If anything, these challenges have only made our commitment to the rule of law even stronger.
Under our policy of Values-based Diplomacy, we are focusing on three areas:
•Prevention: Keeping our citizens informed and vigilant when they travel.
•Protection: Providing emergency support through our overseas missions.
•Response: Building a "Democratic Network" to share intelligence and coordinate our counter-strategies with all of you.
At its core, transnational repression relies on fear. And the best antidote to fear is collaboration.
Taiwan is ready to help against TNR. We are leveraging our technology expertise and our democratic experiences to safeguard the values we all share.
Today’s forum is a vital start. I look forward to the ideas and partnerships that will grow from our discussions today. I wish you all a productive forum and a wonderful stay in Taiwan.
Thank you.