January 3, 2023
no. 001
Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, accompanied by National Security Council Secretary General Wellington Koo, hosted a dinner to welcome a delegation led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, on January 3. Minister Wu sincerely welcomed Mr. Rasmussen and thanked him for firmly supporting Taiwan at various international occasions.
Minister Wu said free and democratic Taiwan is a reliable partner. In the face of the serious challenge of authoritarian expansionism across the globe, Taiwan has remained confident and calm and has shown self-restraint. The nation has pragmatically and actively bolstered its self-defense capabilities, continued to enhance its social and economic resilience, and demonstrated to the international community its determination to defend itself. Minister Wu stressed that Taiwan stands on the front lines in defending the values of freedom and democracy. It will continue to work with like-minded international partners to jointly promote democratic development and prosperity.
Minister Wu thanked Mr. Rasmussen for his long-standing and staunch support of Taiwan. In 2019, Mr. Rasmussen invited Minister Wu to Denmark to speak at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. He has also invited President Tsai Ing-wen to address the summit every year since 2020. This has allowed Taiwan to draw global attention to its freedom and democracy and jointly promote common values with the democratic community worldwide.
Mr. Rasmussen said his last visit to Taiwan was in 1994. Over the years, Taiwan has undergone tremendous transformations. As well as achieving economic prosperity, Taiwan has become a mature liberal democracy. The country is a beacon for freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Rasmussen stressed that the most significant purpose of his visit was to demonstrate strong support for democratic Taiwan and show the determination of the international community to stand in solidarity and enjoy joint prosperity with Taiwan.
Minister Wu and Secretary General Koo engaged in an extensive exchange of opinions with Mr. Rasmussen on key issues, including China’s military threat, cross-strait security, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Taiwan-EU cooperation. Mr. Rasmussen said he would continue to speak up for Taiwan at international events and promote deeper cooperation and solidarity between the international democratic community and Taiwan.
Mr. Rasmussen visited Taiwan in 1994 as a member of the Danish Parliament. For almost three decades, he has consistently supported freedom and democracy in Taiwan. Minister Wu wished him a successful visit and said that he hoped Mr. Rasmussen would experience Taiwan's thriving liberal democracy and richly diverse society. (E)