VP Hsiao commits to strengthen self-defense capability at Halifax Taipei forum

2025/02/25

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said Feb. 21 that Taiwan is committed to strengthening its self-defense capability and economic resilience while working with like-minded partners to contribute further to global peace and prosperity.
 
She made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Halifax Taipei forum. The vice president praised the event for discussing how democracy engenders justice and security, adding that it encourages focus on issues that require cooperation, which she called “values-guided realism.”
 
According to Hsiao, values matter, and democracy is the best government system that empowers humanity to strive for peace. To this end, President Lai Ching-te proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which involves strengthening national defense, building economic security, deepening partnerships with democratic countries, and maintaining stable and principled cross-strait leadership, she said.
 
Taiwan has implemented a series of measures to realize the plan, the vice president said, citing the increase of national defense budget, the implementation of national defense reform and the establishment of a defense innovation unit. Facing China’s increasing hybrid threats, Taiwan also needs hybrid solutions, Hisao added, stressing that strengthening self-defense capacity is the best means to deter aggression.

Hsiao went on to talk about the establishment of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, which aims to advance resilience in national energy, internet networks, finance, communications and fundamental infrastructure while also assessing medical and food reserves. She added that economic resilience plays a key role in national security, noting that Taiwan is ready to cooperate with partners in advancing the five trusted industry sectors including artificial intelligence, defense, next-generation communications, semiconductors, and security and surveillance.
 
Taiwan is indispensable to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Hsiao said, adding that to invest in Taiwan’s strength is to invest in peace. She concluded by saying that Taiwan will continue upholding freedom and democracy through the “values-guided realism” concept and is determined to partner with like-minded friends to maintain peace by building strength together.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)