The Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, along with the Vice-Chair of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, MEP Andrius Kubilius (former Lithuanian Prime Minister), and MEP Andrus Ansip (former Estonian Prime Minister), jointly organized a conference at the European Parliament on the "2024 Taiwan Election and Its Implications for the Defence of Democracy" on 31 January 2024.
Ambassador Roy Lee opened the conference by first delivering a briefing on the results of Taiwan’s 2024 presidential and legislative elections. Throughout the event, experts and scholars from various fields discussed a range of issues. J. Michael Cole, Research Fellow at the Taiwan Prospect Foundation and Senior Advisor at the International Republican Institute (IRI), explained the mechanisms and aims of PRC interference in Taiwan’s 2024 elections. Gray Sergeant, Associate Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, discussed the response from, and the implications for, the wider region. Valérie Niquet, Senior Research Fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), elaborated on the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for European security. Russell Hsiao, Executive Director of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), explained the shifting public opinion and elites’ views on US-Taiwan relations. Theresa Fallon, Director of the Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies (CREAS), provided insights into the challenges and opportunities for a Transatlantic approach to cross-strait relations.
Experts also shared insights and addressed questions from the audience regarding the geopolitical impact of the 2024 Taiwan elections and their implications for defending democratic processes. Many attendees stated that the conference contributed to their understanding of Taiwan's experience in dealing with Chinese interference in its elections. They also expressed admiration for Taiwan's determination to strengthen democratic resilience and maintain its existing way of life.