National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) met with U.K. parliamentarian Tom Tugendhat on Tuesday. Tugendhat, the former U.K. Minister of State for Security, arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for his first visit, which will last for four days.
According to a statement from the National Security Council, Wu and Tugendhat discussed key issues such as regional security, Taiwan-U.K. relations, and strategies to counter authoritarian expansion.
During the meeting, Wu highlighted the increased military cooperation between China and Russia and their use of gray zone operations, cognitive warfare, and legal warfare to expand authoritarian influence. He thanked Tugendhat for his steadfast support for Taiwan and his advocacy for universal values such as democracy and human rights in the U.K. Parliament.
In response, Tugendhat praised Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and impressive economic and technological achievements as a compelling alternative to one-party rule. He emphasized the importance of creating a “democratic supply chain” to counter economic weaponization by authoritarian regimes and pointed to Taiwan’s pivotal role in this endeavor. Tugendhat also remarked that COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the interconnectedness of the world, with no nation immune to global challenges.
Wu reiterated Taiwan's commitment to enhancing resilience and contributing to regional stability while standing with global democratic partners like the U.K. to counter authoritarian threats.
