TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan chooses to follow the path of democracy, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said in a speech at the New York Taiwan Center on Sunday (Sept. 1).
Between freedom and democracy versus authoritarianism and tyranny, the choice is simple, Lin said, per CNA. We must stand with nations that share the values of freedom and democracy, he said.
Amid shifting US-China relations, Taiwan's international standing has become increasingly important in both regional politics and the global economy, Lin said. He pointed out that diplomacy has now evolved into economic cooperation, with the US playing a key role. The US and Taiwan are working together to invest and develop in other countries, establishing a new economic partnership, he said.
When asked about strengthening Taiwan's ties with the US, Lin explained that exchanges between lawmakers already exist. However, there is room to enhance interactions between sister cities and states such as increasing the frequency of exchanges between city councils and state legislatures, he said.
The secretary-general also encouraged young Taiwanese politicians to have a more international mindset. He believed that fostering early connections with young American state legislators would be good for long-term relations.
Lin is on a 13-day trip to the US, during which he will visit New York, Washington, DC, Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. His visit aims to strengthen the DPP’s outreach to overseas Taiwanese.
He will stop at the party’s US representative offices in each city and hold info sessions on recent Taiwan developments. He will also hold closed-door meetings with US think tanks and deliver a speech at the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, DC.
