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TAIPEI, TAIWAN May 6, 2024 — Taiwan’s Vice President-Elect Bi-khim Hsiao called for stronger partnerships with “like-minded societies around the world.”
Speaking today at the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI)’s Annual Forum in Taipei, attended by former U.S. ambassador James S. Gilmore III, Hsiao emphasized that Taiwan as an “island of resilience” has unique adaptability in navigating global challenges, enabling it to forge a path to global leadership.
“Not only can Taiwan help, Taiwan can lead,” stressed Hsiao in her keynote speech titled “Can Taiwan Play a Leadership Role in the Asia Pacific?”
“Despite the harsh reality of our international isolation, Taiwan has managed to lead in our soft power as a force for good extending the influence of kindness and humanity across the region.”
“At its core, the Taiwan template is built on a foundation of resilience forged in the crucible of adversity, as shaped by our precarious existence in the shadow of a giant neighbor.”
Hsiao stressed that such resilience has enabled Taiwan to navigate the treacherous waters of global politics to adapt to and be ahead of the shifting tides in the global economy and to innovate in the face of uncertainty.
“Looking ahead, President Lai and I are committed to leveraging our assets as we work to forge stronger partnerships with like-minded societies around the world. I look forward to continuing collaboration, not only with one country but with all the forces of our society who are present here today, as well as with our international partners.”
Apart from the leaders and experts from Taiwan and the US, the speakers at CAPRI’s annual forum today included scholars and leaders from Asia-Pacific countries such as Korea, Japan, India, and the Philippines.
In addition to the public forum, James S. Gilmore III, along with members of the CAPRI board and International Advisory Council, convened with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Official Residence of the President today.
Former US ambassador: “US never leads alone”
In the Forum’s opening keynote, Republican politician and former Governor of Virginia James S. Gilmore III said the US will continue to lead the world “with its like-minded allies,” as he believes the American principles of liberty and human rights exist in the breast of every human being.
“The people of the world are with us. We all have a common purpose,” said Gilmore, who is also the former US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) appointed by Donald Trump.
He argued that divisions and rivalries are common in democratic societies and that the frequent warnings that the US is internally divided and therefore “not a dependable partner” are deliberate lies from its adversaries.
“We will never lead alone, but we will be able to lead,” reassuring the audience of over 200 that the US can inspire trust and cooperation among other ally nations.
Gilmore added that the recent foreign aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan passed by Congress demonstrate consensus in the US to “do the right thing in order to create peace in the world.”
Hsiao: Build Taiwan’s strength beyond thanking the US
Meanwhile, Hsiao expressed her gratitude to the US for its continuing commitment to supporting its allies and partners in the face of geopolitical challenges.
“But beyond thanking our international friends, for their support, it is important that as Taiwanese we invest in building our own strengths first,” she added.
“Through our efforts in building a resilient Taiwan, we must have the confidence that Taiwan is worthy of galvanizing international support and that the success of Taiwan is also important to the world.”
Hsiao was the closing keynote speaker at CAPRI’s Annual Forum “Changing Currents: Innovation and Transformation for the Asia Pacific,” held at Taipei New Horizon, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.
CAPRI is an independent international think tank headquartered in Taipei. Founded in 2022, CAPRI’s mission is to enhance global resilience and promote innovative governance by drawing on the experiences of the Asia-Pacific region through comparative policy research.
US should incentivize allies to help with decoupling
During a panel discussion, CAPRI chair Syaru Shirley Lin highlighted that Taiwan is in a unique position facing global uncertainties, particularly as the US and other countries attempt to reduce their economic interdependence with China, especially in the semiconductor industry.
Lin said that the US should play an active role in assisting Taiwan in the process of decoupling and de-risking its economy.
“As Governor Gilmore says, we need to pay for our own defense. How do we do that, if we are getting squeezed and we are trying to pay for the decoupling?”
“I think at the heart of it is how the US incentivizes partners and allies to help with derisking or decoupling and at the same time, become more economically competitive and resilient, so that we can all be safer.”
Lin also pointed out the high levels of skepticism of the US in Taiwanese society should be addressed by fostering more trust through dialogue and consultation.
“The most recent Taiwan election shows there is a high level of skepticism about the United States, its intentions, its motivation, and its ability actually to carry out (its promise). ”
“Whether it’s Trump or Biden this November, building trust with all aspects of Taiwanese society is the only way to bring us partners with it to make its policy successful.”
She also urged the Taiwan government to enhance talent acquisition policies to ensure Taiwan’s competitiveness and resilience.
“For the Taiwan government, my policy recommendation is we need talent in everything, not just in hardware manufacturing,” said Lin, who is also a Research Professor at the University of Virginia.
“We need talent in climate, in finance, in law and accounting, so that we can be a more competitive and innovative society which has the capacity to go along with the US policy to make the world safer and more resilient.”
CAPRI: A platform for international dialogue
CAPRI is a nongovernmental, nonpartisan, international think tank governed by a board of experts and donor representatives, who receive input from CAPRI’s International Advisory Council, consisting of scholars, industry leaders, and international experts.
The Annual Forum is CAPRI’s flagship public event that convenes policymakers, industry leaders, civil society, and multidisciplinary professionals for a dynamic international dialogue.
This year, the panel discussions covered economic resilience in the face of US-China decoupling, the impact of AI and other technological transformations, sustainable health systems, green energy, and natural disaster resilience.
The panelists from Asia-Pacific countries mentioned the importance of cross-national, cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration in the face of natural disasters, energy issues, and an aging society.
In a discussion about the impact and ethics of AI, Senior Director of Mediatek Bor-Sung Liang emphasized that a long-term perspective is needed when considering technological development to ensure sustainability.
“AI is a new tool to extend our brain power; we overestimate it in the short term and underestimate it in the long term,” said Liang.
Co-Head of Healthcare & Life Science, KPMG Jarret Su highlighted the importance of cross-border and cross-sector partnerships in responding to global healthcare challenges with his first-person story of receiving AstraZeneca vaccines donated from Japan during the COVID pandemic.
Taiwan Cement Chairman Nelson Chang, when discussing green tech for sustainable growth, said that the energy transition will not happen without a new paradigm.
“This has to happen in the civil society, the government and most importantly, the investors. Private sectors are doing a lot, but we also need the support of our investor community to make it happen,” said Chang.
Meanwhile, Public Administration and Governance expert from the University of the Philippines Diliman Kristoffer Berse stressed that disasters are not completely caused by “nature,” but by political-economic development planning. He stressed that disaster resilience should be planned beyond political boundaries and incorporated with local knowledge.
CAPRI is supported by leading private-sector donors, including Cheng-Han Education Charity Trust Fund, which is affiliated with leading financial institution Fubon Group; Acer Foundation; and MediaTek, a leading fabless semiconductor company. Since its founding, CAPRI has also received contributions from TSMC and UMC, two leading semiconductor companies, as well as Tung-Ho Steel, Chen-Yung Foundation, Jeffrey D. Schwartz and Na Tang Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association, Wego Foundation, Regent Taipei – Silks Hotel Group, AstraZeneca, and Philips.
For more information, visit www.caprifoundation.org
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【台北，2024年5月6日】亞太堅韌研究基金會（亞堅會，Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation，CAPRI）於松菸臺北文創舉辦的第二屆國際論壇，近300名產、官、學、研各界代表到場，座無虛席。
曾任川普時期的美國駐歐洲安全與合作組織大使吉爾莫（James Gilmore）在論壇上強調美國仍能領導世界，且將繼續支持包括台灣在內的盟友。中華民國準副總統蕭美琴則指出，台灣作為「堅韌之島」能在多方面領導亞洲。
吉爾莫同日下午隨同亞堅會的董事會及國際顧問委員會成員，到總統官邸拜會蔡英文總統。蔡總統表示，期盼隨著「亞堅會」持續擴大研究範圍，未來的臺灣能夠在經濟、公共衛生以及永續發展等領域，汲取更多元的國際經驗，提升國家韌性。
本年度的論壇主題為「開創新局 乘風馭浪」，16位來自美國、日本、印度、韓國、菲律賓等多地的專家共同探討未來危機如何轉化為韌性，對談人包括前香港科技大學校長史維、聯發科技前瞻技術平台資深處長梁伯嵩、宏碁集團永續長劉靜靜、晶華國際酒店集團董事長潘思亮、台灣水泥董事長張安平、慈濟慈善事業基金會宗教處精實企劃室主任黃思浩。
吉爾莫：美國將繼續維護盟友
吉爾莫的開幕演講主題為「國際主義與孤立主義間的角力——分歧的美國能否凝聚零碎化的世界」。他強調，美國是太平洋國家，在亞太地區有位置，美國一直領導全球，未來也將繼續擔當領導角色，但重申「美國優先（America first）」並不是「只有美國（Amercia alone）」，盟友非常重要。
他說：「很多人試圖告訴我們的盟友和其他公民，說美國是靠不住的，美國很分裂所以無法領導。這是一個謊言，是我們的對手故意編造的謊言。我的目標是對盟友做出保證，並向那些搖擺不定的國家招手，向世界傳遞一個訊息，我們在做正確的事。」
吉爾莫提到年底將舉行的美國大選，說許多人散播關於川普有可能重回白宮的恐懼，但他指美國國會早前通過法案向烏克蘭、以色列和台灣提供安全援助，顯示出對盟友強而有力的支持，共和黨人、眾議院議長強生（Mike Johnson）在過程中扛著政治壓力，川普也公開支持他。
談到中國和俄羅斯問題時，吉爾莫指美國尊重對手，並曾向兩國伸出友誼之手，卻感到被出賣。「美國與中國正常化關係，我們沒想到中國會變得有侵略性，成為霸權。而現在我們要保護我們的朋友。」
吉爾莫出席亞堅會論壇前受訪時強調，相信川普若當選總統，會像第一個任期一樣支持台灣。他是川普任內外交政策的諮詢對象，獲委派駐歐期間，有效落實川普要求歐洲盟友負擔更多防務開支的政策。他也曾擔任美國維吉尼亞州州長、美國共和黨全國委員會主席，於2016年及以前曾參與角逐共和黨總統提名。
蕭美琴：台灣「堅韌之島」可在三方面領導亞洲
中華民國準副總統蕭美琴的閉幕演說主題為「領航亞太，台灣準備好了嗎？」，她表示感謝美國的援助，但同時強調台灣要投入更多去提高國家韌性，讓人看到台灣值得國際支持。
蕭美琴說除了「台灣可以幫忙（Taiwan can help）」，也是「台灣可以領導（Taiwan can lead）」，她引述蔡英文總統在2022年雙十國慶演說上形容台灣是「堅韌之島，韌性國家」，指台灣經歷數十年戒嚴時期，面對地緣政治壓力，以及頻繁的颱風和地震等天災，培養出強大的韌性和領導力。
蕭美琴分析，台灣可以在政治、社會、經濟三方面領導亞洲。政治方面，台灣從威權統治走到民主，自1996年開始直選總統，「縱然傷痕累累，但我們的民主一直穩步邁進」，現在也有大量國際非政府組織、智庫和媒體機構進駐。
社會方面，蕭美琴指台灣在全民健保、LGBTQ、勞權和人權方面領先，面對疫情和天災，台灣人都樂於提供物資，用善意展現出軟實力。經濟方面，她說除了國際媒體聚焦的科技業和明星企業，台灣的強項也在於靈活創新的中小企，建立良好的生態吸引各國人才。但她補充指，台灣需要在薪資差距、住房問題等方面向其他地方學習。
林夏如：「去風險」下美國應協助台灣
在專家交流環節上，亞堅會創辦人暨董事長林夏如教授表示，今年初台灣總統大選顯示民眾對美國防衛台灣的承諾有懷疑，雙方必須加強對話和溝通，建立互信。
她提到，台灣要有經濟韌性才能保障安全，但目前台灣高達40%貿易流向中國大陸，在經濟脫鉤（de-coupling）和去風險（de-risking）的過程中，美國作為盟友應更積極協助台灣。「正如吉爾莫前州長所說，台灣要為自己的國防負責。但如果我們在經濟上被擠壓，又要為脫鉤付出代價，我們怎麼做得到？」
林夏如還呼籲台灣政府加強人才引進政策，以確保競爭力和韌性。「對台灣政府而言，我的政策建議是，我們在各方面都需要人才，不僅僅是硬件制造的人才，也需要氣候、金融、法律和會計方面的人才。這樣我們才能成為一個更具競爭力和創新力的社會，有能力配合美國的政策，讓世界變得更安全、更有韌性。」
林夏如是美國國家亞洲研究局（National Bureau of Asian Research）2023年出版的 Strategic Asia 一書的作者之一，該書探討亞太經濟成長的前景和區域依存的未來。
地震應變：日本專家指出老齡化社會的危機
4月3日花蓮大地震備受關注，各地專家在論壇上分享經驗。菲律賓大學迪里曼分校國家公共行政與治理學院院長Kristoffer Berse表示，面對天災要改變思維，「災難是政治、經濟選擇的結果，地震本身不會殺死人，但建築物會」。他指出，菲律賓規定每個地方政府都要制定天災風險評估，並考慮跨城市、跨行政區的應變計劃。
日本慶應義塾大學醫學部醫療政策與管理學系副教授野村周平，則聚焦天災對老年人的影響，他的研究發現災難發生時養老院要在短時間內撤離過百人，卻沒有合適的交通配套和護理師照顧，導致許多老人在撤離後一個月內健康狀況急轉直下而過世。
他說：「台灣和日本社會一樣老齡化，老人和身心障礙者會因為撤離本身而撐不過去，如何在天災期間安全撤離是個難題，我們需要更多護理師，也要考慮過程中的心理影響。」
在花蓮大地震中，位處災區的太魯閣晶英酒店有數百名旅客及員工受困，停電斷網。晶華國際酒店集團董事長潘思亮在論壇上分享當時的危急狀況，飯店成為了附近災民的庇護所，而集團在台北辦公室的職員逐一聯絡受困者家屬。「沒有通訊，大家都很恐慌，天災發生時人與人的連結很關鍵，我們每個打電話，這個款待的力量變成堅韌的力量。」
慈濟慈善事業基金會宗教處精實企劃室主任黃思浩強調，防災教育非常重要，該團體在2019年九二一大地震20週年開始與教育部合作，確保台灣年輕人了解地震的威力與應變措施。他又說慈濟鼓勵志工感恩和關懷自己的社區，所以他們總是第一時間到達災區現場，「因為志工就是在地人」。
談到氣候變遷與能源轉型時，台灣水泥董事長張安平表示，環保概念不能靠灌輸，必須打從心裡相信，他又說溫室氣體排放不應沒有成本，認為要為此徵費。他以科幻作品《三體》做比喻指減排沒有統一方法，要因應氣候、經濟發展和社會去想出獨特的解決方式。
其他專家則討論了供應鏈安全、AI發展、公共衛生等議題，對談人包括前香港科技大學校長史維、聯發科技前瞻技術平台資深處長梁伯嵩、宏碁集團永續長劉靜靜、印度觀察家研究基金會主席Sunjoy Joshi。
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