Alexander Tah-ray Yui
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
February 22, 2022
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a pleasure to welcome you to this special event.
Nongovernmental organizations are very important to Taiwan, as they play a significant role in promoting freedom, democracy, and peace. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, over the past three years a number of international NGOs have established offices in Taiwan. These include the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, Freedom House, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the European Values Center for Security Policy, Safeguard Defenders, Terra Renaissance, and the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation. The government of Taiwan is heartened by these developments and remains committed to facilitating the opening of ever more INGO offices.
By establishing a presence in Taiwan, INGOs can expand their scope in the Asia-Pacific. And as threats from authoritarian regimes continue to increase, the growing numbers of INGOs in Taiwan become even more crucial. Taiwan will continue to work with INGOs and other like-minded partners to protect democracy, human rights, and freedom.
In closing, I wish this event every success. May you all enjoy the best of health and happiness in the Year of the Rabbit. Thank you!