The viewpoint of Taiwan is more important than ever for Asia-
Pacific democracies when facing current challenges, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said in Taipei yesterday.
Turnbull made the remark in his keynote speech titled “Democratic Leadership in a Populist Age” at an annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) think tank.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The challenges posed by authoritarian governments are becoming more serious, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made NATO stronger and the Western world more united in defending democracy, he said.
Ukrainians’ tenacious and courageous fight against Russia demonstrated that “democracies must support each other,” Turnbull said.
Democracies in the Asia-Pacific region should “ensure the strong does not do as they will,” and defend democracy and the right of nations to determine their own destinies free from coercion, he said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Another great threat to democracy is disinformation, spread by external forces and domestic conspiracy theorists, Turnbull said.
He warned against the dominance of social media, which has transformed the media landscape and made society more divided.
A diversity of voices helps reduce the risk of monopolies, but audiences in today’s world often only hear the voice most similar to their own and media are striving to capture their attention by presenting increasingly extreme views, Turnbull said.
To defend democratic resilience in the social media era, people need to “stand up for truth and call out lies for what they are,” which requires input from the government and responsible media organizations, he said.
Trust can be built on the foundation of truth and transparency, he added.
Turnbull, who serves as chair of CAPRI’s International Advisory Council, is making his first visit to Taiwan.
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), in his speech at the forum, said that Taiwan demonstrated economic and industrial endurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to bolster the resilience of its economy, workforce and the environment.
Global challenges, such as the pandemic, climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war, “have made evident just how vulnerable and helpless national economies and global supply chains are in the face of sudden extreme risks,” Chen said.
To combat challenges beyond national borders, “we must all rely on working together with like-minded countries to adopt consistent and effective responses,” he said.
“Be prepared for danger in times of peace” is a motto Taiwanese live by, he added.
Despite being excluded from the UN system, Taiwan “has consistently fulfilled its responsibility as a member of the global village” by promoting the transition to net zero emissions, he said.
“Taiwan is glad to share its experience in post-pandemic national resilience-building with the global community,” and looks forward to working with international partners to promote resilience and prosperity, Chen said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old