Due to the devastating earthquake that hit Taiwan on April 3rd, Taiwan has received strong support from the international community, including kind messages from the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and members of the Assembly, for which Taiwan is extremely grateful.
A friend in need is a friend indeed! Taiwan itself has proven to lend a helping hand. During the Covid pandemic, Taiwan donated surgical masks and other medical equipment to many countries around the world. Although Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as WHA and WHO is limited, Taiwan is still willing and able to help wherever needed. We strongly believe that Taiwan can contribute to a more comprehensive global health network.
Furthermore, after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Taiwan has supported Ukrainian refugees with the help of many NGOs and charities in Central and Eastern European countries. We fully understand what it’s like to face the pressures from the authoritarian regime; so we offer our help whenever we can.
Taiwan also spares no effort to engage with like-minded partners in the Balkans. A delegation of inter-party deputies headed by the former prime minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, has just visited Taiwan, together with various companies from Kosovo. They met Taiwan’s president-elect William Lai to discuss how cooperation between democracies with their shared values could be deepened. Among the topics discussed were exchanges between the medical, technological, academic and business fields. The newly signed sister city agreement between Pristina and Taiwan’s port city of Kaohsiung also promises many possible future collaborations.
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, along with maritime tension in the Indo-Pacific region, show that the world is facing challenges from authoritarian threats, regional security, economic uncertainty and great power influences. And it is during this difficult time that Taiwan’s values are emphasized.
First, Taiwan is a stable democracy that shares the same value with its like-minded allies. The January 13 presidential and parliamentary elections earlier this year mark the 8th fully democratic presidential election, and a peaceful transition of power is expected during the inauguration later in May. Taiwan’s democracy is well recognized and celebrated by the international community. According to the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, Taiwan is ranked first in Asia and 10th globally in the 2023 Democracy Index.
Second, Taiwan’s leading role in global semiconductor supply chains is crucial to the global economy. Taiwan produces most of the world’s most advanced chips, with TSMC and many other firms leading the way. The irreplaceable industry makes Taiwan a very valuable player for the global market.
Third, the Taiwan Strait is crucial for international shipping. Taiwan’s security is in the interest of the whole world. European leaders from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Great Britain, France and Germany, together at the meetings of the G7, the European Council, NATO and AUKUS have emphasized the importance of peace and stability along the Taiwan Strait.
When it comes to international support, Taiwan has received bipartisan support from the US. The US House of Representatives just voted urgently on April 20 to approve $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The joint military exercise of the US, the Philippines, Japan and Australia, and the recent leadership summits between the US, Japan, the UK and the Philippines all indicate international concerns about the tension in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s newly elected president, William Lai, newly elected vice president, Bi-Khim Hsiao, and their new team have won the trust and support of the US, Japan and many EU leaders.
Taiwanese firms are valuable partners for their European counterparts to strengthen industrial sustainability and avoid over-dependence on the global supply chain. The latest example is TSMC’s new production base in Dresden, Germany.
Kosovo, too, could benefit greatly by strengthening its ties with Taiwan. With Kosovo’s strategic location in the Western Balkans and its young and dynamic workforce, Kosovo has become an attractive market for Taiwanese companies focusing on renewable energy, ICT and smart cities. At a time when the economy is uncertain and democracies are at risk, Taiwan looks forward to building stronger ties with our partners from Kosovo for a better future based on reciprocity.
