Author: Taiwan Speaks

October is a month of pride and celebration for both our nations. As Saint Vincent and the Grenadines marks its 46th anniversary of independence, it is my great honor to welcome you to join us in celebrating the 114th National Day of the Republic of China, Taiwan. On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast friendship and unwavering support. Your partnership continues to inspire us and strengthen the bond between our two nations. Tonight, we not only celebrate our shared history — we also celebrate our shared vision for the future.…

Chip in with Taiwan in the Collective Pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals As the United Nations ushers in its 80th anniversary and there are merely 5 more years for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is a crucial moment for the international community to reflect on the achievements made and gaps to be filled. Right here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been working with the Government in a wide range of fields in our concerted efforts. Taiwan has been actively collaborating with the government…

“Chip in with Taiwan” for Global Peace and Prosperity Today, the world faces mounting uncertainties and challenges—from prolonged conflicts and democratic backsliding to economic coercion and disinformation campaigns. Authoritarian regimes increasingly employ gray-zone tactics that undermine the rules-based international order. In this fragile global environment, peace cannot be taken for granted. Democracies must unite to bolster resilience and safeguard our cherished values and way of life. Taiwan is a key player and an indispensable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, working toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. It stands on the front line of the Indo-Pacific’s first island chain, defending democracy and freedom…

Advancing health equity and promoting a healthier Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system. Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Improved health results in greater well-being for the people and has ramifications for the survival and development of a country and even the world. At the 77th World Health Assembly, members adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Fourteenth General Programme of Work for 2025-2028. The program includes such strategic objectives as improving health service coverage and bolstering financial protections to ensure universal health coverage. WHO has called on all countries to take…

Taiwan’s indispensability in preparing for future pandemics The three years of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a terrible loss of life and exacerbated health inequalities. The global economy slumped and, worldwide, people’s lives were affected. This experience demonstrated that the present global health governance framework is not effective in responding to threats to global health. Although COVID-19 is no longer labeled a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and trade and economic activity globally have returned to normal, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautions against the threat of a Disease X pandemic. Therefore, it is critical that countries across…

Taiwan works with SVG in combating climate change The dangerous impact of climate change on humanity is becoming increasingly apparent and urgent, as evidenced by such phenomena as the wildfires this year in Hawaii, and the record-high temperatures worldwide in July. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan has launched a series of actions this year to combat climate change on local and international scales, including works with St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Climate change does not discriminate, thus mechanisms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement should not discriminate…

Taiwan steps up efforts to achieve net-zero emissions Climate change is impacting the world at an unprecedented rate. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to rise and global average temperatures have reached record highs. But it is not too late. If we act now, we can still achieve a livable and sustainable future. Taiwan is working together with the international community toward the common goal of net-zero emissions. It is looking for opportunities to contribute its strengths in green and other technologies. With the world facing the threat of climate change and the challenge of supply chain…

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how autocracies care little about causing death and destruction. The war is a gross violation of human rights and the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes as codified in the United Nations Charter, which has helped maintain the rules-based international order and kept the world in relative peace since the end of the Cold War. The war’s humanitarian and economic fallout has also shown that in a globalized world crises cannot be contained within national borders. It is therefore imperative to deter similar threats to global security from happening elsewhere. Taiwan—a…

As the world enters the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is gradually improving. Most border restrictions have been lifted and global health governance has shifted from pandemic response to postpandemic recovery. Countries worldwide have stepped up efforts to achieve health and well-being for all and further the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose progress was impacted by the pandemic. Taiwan fully supports health-related SDGs and the World Health Organization’s triple billion targets. Indeed, Taiwan is committed to building a more resilient and equitable health service supply chain, maintaining an inclusive and equitable universal health…

Taiwan’s bid for UNFCCC COP 27 The world has embarked on the transition to net-zero emissions. The innovative approaches to international cooperation highlighted in the Paris Agreement—which calls for wide cooperation by all countries to meet global reduction targets—are gradually taking shape. Taiwan is willing and able to cooperate with international partners to jointly achieve net-zero transition, mobilize global climate action, and ensure a sustainable environment for future generations. As the world’s 21st-largest economy, Taiwan has an important influence on economic prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In particular, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry occupies a pivotal position in international supply…

Fraud is disrupting people’s livelihoods in the post-pandemic era The internet is very much part of daily life in the post pandemic world. Working, studying, shopping, and conducting other transactions online have become commonplace. But the digital financial services that have developed from these activities are an easy target for criminal organizations and have also made investigating crime more complicated for the police. In 2021, Taiwan reported fraud-related losses of NT$5.61 billion (equivalent approximately to US$186 million), indicating that fraud has seriously damaged national economic development. There is little doubt that fraud poses a formidable challenge to countries worldwide. In…

St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves during his speech to the 77th UNGA last weekend raised two legitimate and important questions about Taiwan: the very existence of Taiwan and its right to participate in the UN system and other multilateral organizations, particularly the UN specialized agencies. As the UNGA has just concluded and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is having their triennial assembly in Canada, it is the perfect time to discuss these prolonged and unanswered questions, for we believe it is a watershed moment for the world, to finally come to realize the strategic roles that Taiwan is playing…