Taiwan’s freedom is key to the technological advancement of the 21st century, and the world should protect that freedom from Chinese aggression, former British prime minister Boris Johnson said today in Taipei.
Johnson was addressing the opening of this year’s Ketagalan Forum hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his first visit to Taiwan.
Johnson began his speech by talking about artificial intelligence (AI), which he said is the key technology of the 21st century, calling himself “a total believer in AI and addict of ChatGPT.”
Photo: Screenshot from the Ketagalan Forum livestream
He said he looks forward to AI being utilized to its full potential throughout professions, adding that “great technological change always ends up creating more well-paid jobs than it destroys.”
“All of it is made possible by Taiwan,” as about 95 percent of the microprocessors necessary for AI are made here, Johnson said.
The chief reason for Taiwan’s success in the field is because “this is a free country where everyone has the equal protection of the law,” which gives people the courage to innovate, he said.
“It is vital for the whole world that we protect that freedom,” Johnson said.
He said he supports peaceful dialogue across the Taiwan Strait and spoke out against China’s unilateral attempts to change the “status quo” through intimidation.
He denounced how China is trying to bully Taiwan into submission by sending boats into Taiwan’s waters and planes into its airspace, saying that “it is a huge mistake to use intimidating and aggressive measures against Taiwan.”
The UK should deepen its economic partnership with Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression, Johnson said.
“We stand with you ... we share your values ... because we both understand that freedom is a wonderful thing,” he said.
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