The third U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region was held Nov. 15 in Arlington, Virginia, and virtually in Taipei City, spotlighting the like-minded partners’ commitment to strengthening elected institutions.
Launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and American Institute in Taiwan, the annual forum serves as a platform for the U.S. and Taiwan to pursue joint projects promoting freedom, human rights and transparency in the region.
The one-day event was attended by government officials and civil society representatives from the Washington-based International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, as well as the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, among others.
High-profile participants included Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s digital minister, who joined virtually; Dan Biers, director of the US State Department’s Taiwan Coordination Office; Hsiao Bi-khim, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.; Deputy MOFA Minister Harry Ho-jen Tseng; Ingrid Larson, managing director of AIT’s Washington Office; Jeremy Cornforth, deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan; Jessica Stern, U.S. special envoy to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons; and Scott Busby, acting principal deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the U.S. Department of State.
During his address, Tseng said as Taiwan is on the front line of the confrontation between democracies and authoritarianism, the country is key to deterring expansionism. Taiwan’s mature democracy, freedom of the press and religion, as well as promotion of gender equality, has made it an attractive place for reporters from international media outlets, with over 50 foreign journalists being accredited here in the country over the past two years, he added.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “The 3rd #Taiwan -#US Consultations on Democratic Governance in the #IndoPacific are a wrap! Deputy Minister Tseng & APDAS Busby of @StateDRL helmed productive talks spanning areas like human rights, gender equality & disarming disinformation.”
The two sides also issued a fact sheet detailing cooperative projects undertaken to date. Future activities are set to draw on Taiwan’s achievements, including in advancing human rights and gender equality, and promoting open and transparent governance. (DL-E)
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