Copenhagen: President Lai Ching-te, addressing the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, highlighted China’s alleged obstruction of his recent state visit to Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole African ally, as evidence of growing authoritarianism worldwide.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lai emphasized that the world is at a “critical inflection point” in the ongoing competition between democracy and authoritarianism. He pointed out that autocratic regimes in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region are consolidating power through military intimidation, economic coercion, cyberattacks, and “grey zone” operations, posing significant challenges to peace, stability, and democracy.
Lai revealed that his planned visit to Eswatini last month was postponed due to China’s coercive actions, which included blocking normal flight routes. He stated that these actions demonstrate authoritarian regimes’ efforts to impose their own rules globally and highlighted China’s willingness to undermine aviation safety for political leverage. Lai cautioned that democracies can no longer afford to remain passive in the face of expanding authoritarianism.
In his message, Lai reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to contributing to the global community through technological innovation and sharing its experiences in confronting authoritarianism. He asserted that the Taiwanese people have the right to engage internationally and that efforts to isolate Taiwan would not deter its determination to participate on the global stage.
Lai expressed gratitude to democratic partners, including the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, for their support in bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities and advocating for regional stability.
The Copenhagen Democracy Summit, organized by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, serves as an international platform to strengthen cooperation among democratic nations and address challenges facing liberal democracies, bringing together political leaders, academics, and civil society members.