Prague: Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on Thursday called for Taiwan and Europe to deepen strategic cooperation, saying Taiwan could become a key partner in Europe's reindustrialization and rearmament efforts amid rising geopolitical tensions and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Lin emphasized the need for collaboration to build resilience centered on democracy, rule of law, and trusted technology.

According to Focus Taiwan, the annual forum, organized by European think tank GLOBSEC, is being held in the Czech capital from May 21-23. In his speech titled "Taiwan and Europe: Building Resilience in a Fragmented World," Lin highlighted that the partnership between Taiwan and Europe is grounded in decades of economic cooperation and shared democratic values. He underscored that "Economy is security," pointing out that trade, technology, supply chains, and industrial capacity are critical components of national resilience.

Lin noted that Taiwan's semiconductor industry and its trusted supply chain position make it a natural partner for Europe in the AI era. Addressing global security challenges, Lin mentioned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a demonstration of the risks posed by unchecked authoritarian aggression. He also accused China of promoting an authoritarian model based on "control, dependency, and coercion" through military and economic pressure.

Additionally, Lin criticized China's non-market practices and industrial overcapacity, stating they have distorted global competition and increased dangerous dependence on single supply sources. He warned against the "weaponization" of critical mineral exports, highlighting the importance of supply chain de-risking.

Lin shared that Taiwan's efforts to reduce economic dependence on China have already yielded results. While 84 percent of Taiwan's outbound investment went to China a decade ago, that figure has now dropped to around 3 percent. "Effective derisking measures have also helped Taiwan's economy to grow even stronger," Lin said, noting that Taiwan's gross domestic product grew by more than 8 percent last year and is projected to grow around 7 percent this year.