Modern democracy was born in Europe. It was carried by the currents of history across the Atlantic and into the Indo-Pacific region, where it has taken root, flourished and branched outward. In Taiwan, democratic governance was achieved through a century of persistent struggle and sacrifice by generations of Taiwanese. Through institutional reform and transition, democracy has become the DNA of our society — reflected in our social environment, cultural diversity, religious freedom and innovation-driven economy.
However, authoritarian expansion continues to challenge the resolve and resilience of the global democratic camp. China, Russia, North Korea and Iran have increasingly formed alliances, collectively supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At last year’s NATO summit in Washington, China was referred to as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s aggression. As a major power within the authoritarian bloc, China persistently undermines the rules-based international order and targets Taiwan through military intimidation, economic coercion and legal manipulation to weaken our standing.
For Taiwan’s survival and development, it is essential to deepen partnerships with like-minded nations, integrating democratic values with economic and technological interests.
Europe is not only the birthplace of modern democracy and the market economy, but also the cradle of advanced technology. It has long been a foundational partner of Taiwan. Indeed, the earliest investments in Taiwan’s “silicon shield” came from Europe, and European raw materials and technologies remain indispensable to our semiconductor industry.
For example, Belgium’s Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre, which I visited in November last year, has maintained deep cooperation with Taiwan. Dutch semiconductor leader ASML has also long engaged with our industry. By last year, European investment in Taiwan had reached US$73.4 billion, exceeding the combined total from the US and Japan. All of that underscores Europe’s exceptional importance to Taiwan.
While Taiwan and Europe face pressure from authoritarian expansionism, they also enjoy unprecedented potential for cooperation. At a time of challenges and opportunities, Taiwan’s strategy toward Europe would leverage its key roles within the global democratic value chain, the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific region and “non-red” supply chains.
Through a policy of integrated diplomacy, Taiwan would advance cooperation with Europe across three major pillars: values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy and economic diplomacy.
Europe, with a long democratic tradition and many democracies, requires engagement tailored to its different regions. Taiwan should pursue region-specific partnerships in Europe to build zone defense for democracy and economic resilience. Deeper integration with major institutions such as NATO, which focuses on collective security and the EU, which pursues economic and political integration, would ensure that Taiwan’s integrated diplomacy and three-chain strategy complements Europe’s strategic architecture, thus forming a crucial component in strategic Taiwan-Europe alignment.
In western Europe, G7 countries — particularly the UK, France and Germany — have been the foundation of Taiwan-Europe relations and have shown increased interest in Indo-Pacific affairs. France and Germany remain core EU members. The UK, while no longer an EU member, remains a NATO ally.
Notably, Taiwan’s 2023 Enhanced Trade Partnership with the UK marked its first institutionalized economic framework with any European country — an important template for expanded engagement.
Taiwan is also extending its outreach to central and eastern Europe, the Nordic countries and southern Europe. Central and eastern European countries and the Baltic states — standing alongside Taiwan on the front lines against authoritarian pressure — have strengthened ties with Taiwan in the domains of technology and the economy. Taiwan’s Central and Eastern Europe Resilience Initiative 2.0 seeks to expand codevelopment of semiconductor ecosystems with the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and now Poland as well.
Furthermore, Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict means that the “Nordic Five” are now all full NATO members. The Baltic states — Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — share Taiwan’s experience of democratic transformation. Together, the Nordic countries and the Baltic states form a vital front of democratic defense and offer fertile ground for expanded cooperation.
Meanwhile, in southern Europe — including Italy, the Holy See (a formal diplomatic ally of Taiwan), and emerging democracies in the Balkans — there is also significant potential for deepening bilateral ties.
Through integrated diplomacy and the three-chain strategy, Taiwan can thus bolster collaboration with Europe’s traditional and emerging democracies — creating a dual-axis model that enriches strategic, regional and multilayered Taiwan-Europe engagement.
Taiwan’s democratic transformation has received global recognition. In The Economist’s Democracy Index, Taiwan ranks 12th worldwide — on par with leading European democracies. That deep democratic alignment forms a solid foundation for expanding Taiwan-Europe relations.
In response to mounting authoritarian attempts to subvert the rules-based international order — such as China’s efforts to treat the Taiwan Strait as internal waters — European democracies, alongside the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have dispatched naval vessels through the Strait, affirming the right to freedom of navigation.
The EU, the UK and others have also publicly repudiated China’s conflation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 with Beijing’s “one China principle.” The parliaments of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium and the UK, as well as the European Parliament, have passed pro-Taiwan resolutions to counter China’s distortions.
Beyond geopolitics, Taiwan and Europe share a commitment to freedom, democracy and cultural pluralism. We continue to strengthen religious and cultural ties, including with the Holy See. Since becoming foreign minister, I have collaborated with the Ministry of Culture and the National Palace Museum to promote the Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative, showcasing our rich heritage. We are also advancing direct flight routes and scholarship programs to invigorate youth exchanges and people-to-people connections.
The Japan-UK defense ministers’ joint statement emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential to global prosperity. It further demonstrates that the security of the Strait is not only central to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region, but also vital to global security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to foster strategic dialogue with European partners and encourages public affirmations from Europe and the EU that peace in the Taiwan Strait is a global concern.
With NATO countries committing to raise defense budgets, targeting 5 percent of GDP by 2035, and with the EU pushing the ReArm Europe initiative to revitalize its defense industry, Taiwan seeks opportunities for collaboration in defense and emerging sectors such as uncrewed systems, cybersecurity, undersea cable security and societal resilience.
Taiwan’s extensive experience addressing hybrid threats and infiltration can serve as an asset for European democracies confronting similar challenges. Together, we can provide key public goods for democracies and build a “democracy shield” — a shared bulwark against authoritarianism.
With regard to economic diplomacy, Europe is pursuing reindustrialization and risk diversification amid China’s unfair trade practices and overcapacity. Taiwan’s globally distributed and agile industrial base, combined with its leadership in cutting-edge technologies, makes it an ideal partner for Europe’s supply chain diversification and for building non-red supply chains.
With trust emerging as a critical asset in global supply chains, Taiwan is advancing President William Lai’s (賴清德) Five Trusted Industry Sectors: semiconductors, next-generation communications, artificial intelligence (AI), defense, and security and surveillance. Through public-private cooperation, we are promoting Trusted Technology Taiwan — a brand combining democratic values, alliance-based trust and economic added value.
Our Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project (榮邦計畫) focuses on eight flagship areas: semiconductor supply chain resilience; medical and healthcare innovation; AI sovereignty; renewable energy and carbon rights; tourism sustainability; pilot smart industrial parks; agricultural innovation; and digital governance and trusted networks. Paired with financial tools such as the Central and Eastern Europe Investment and Credit Funds, the initiative boosts Taiwanese business engagement across Europe and reinforces deeper bilateral economic ties.
While Taiwan’s GDP approaches G20 levels, our limited land area and population mean that a quantitative gap remains compared with the large European nations that are G7 members. Yet in terms of global competitiveness, economic freedom and innovation — especially in semiconductors, AI and supply chain security — Taiwan is among the world’s top-performing nations.
It stands as a pivotal state — positioned at the nexus where the democratic camp and authoritarian bloc compete in AI and technology. Taiwan now has the opportunity to assert itself as a new middle power — not merely a guardian of democracy, but as an architect of global prosperity through economic and technological collaboration.
Taiwan-Europe cooperation is a shared duty to defend democracy and a historic opportunity to create prosperity. Advancing our relationship demands expanded resources and whole-of-society engagement, guided by the spirit of “every ministry is a ministry of foreign affairs and every citizen is a diplomat.” Taiwan looks forward to working hand in hand with Europe to reaffirm our shared democratic values, translate values-based diplomacy into value-added action and together build a brighter future of democracy and prosperity.
Lin Chia-lung is the minister of foreign affairs.
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