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2024-11-20
中文
2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting delegation press conference

On the afternoon of November 20, the Presidential Office held a press conference for our delegation to the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) upon its return to Taiwan. Leader’s Representative Lin Hsin-i (林信義), accompanied by Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan and National Development Council Minister Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清), Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉), and Director General Jonathan C.Y. Sun (孫儉元) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of International Organizations as Senior Official for APEC, explained the overall situation at this year’s APEC meetings and the outcomes of the AELM, and fielded questions from the media.

In remarks, Leader’s Representative Lin said he was honored that President Lai Ching-te entrusted him to lead a delegation as leader’s representative to attend this year’s AELM. Thanks to the concerted efforts of various government ministries and agencies, and close communication between the frontline and backend support in Taipei, he said, our participation went smoothly, achieving certain results and effectively raising Taiwan’s visibility in APEC.

Leader’s Representative Lin said that the discussions at this year’s AELM were comprehensive and diverse. Leaders representing other member economies were quite concerned about the current challenges the globe needs to face together, he said, and actively exchanged views in various venues, hoping to forge a consensus to establish guiding principles for cooperative responses. He explained that those challenges include geopolitical changes, public health, energy crises, inflation, food security, supply chain fragmentation, glocalization development, and climate change. During the Leaders’ Retreat on November 16, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that trade protectionism has entailed a retreat from global economic integration and trade no longer being such a powerful driver of growth.

Leader’s Representative Lin stated that he shared Taiwan’s development experiences during relevant meetings. He pointed out that the traditional economic and trade model of the past failed to benefit everyone, creating massive wealth and development disparities, and reminded all of the economic leaders to see the importance of both the quality of economic development and inclusive growth.

Leader’s Representative Lin stated that during this year’s Economic Leaders’ Week, he and Minister Liu, Minister without Portfolio Yang, and all the members of the delegation completed the three tasks assigned by the president, including the first: to convey that Taiwan looks to actively contribute to the international community. He noted that a number of the economies expressed great interest in Taiwan’s accomplishments in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), digital medicine, semiconductors, energy transition, and small and-medium-sized enterprise (SME) resilience. Because Taiwan has very comprehensive policy planning, he said, the government plays a key role in promoting economic development. He added that we have successfully integrated the power of private sector innovation and aligned ourselves with the international community, not only enhancing Taiwan’s competitiveness, but also providing other economies with our valuable experiences. 

Leader’s Representative Lin mentioned that during the proceedings he had shared what Taiwan has been doing to promote development of digital health and AI, and that he had explained that Taiwan, as the leader of the Digital Health Sub-working Group of APEC, is actively promoting telemedicine, epidemic prevention applications, and digital health governance. Since 2019, he said, Taiwan government agencies have submitted 31 digital health initiative proposals to APEC, amply demonstrating that our country is willing to help promote fair and inclusive public health environments that will bring positive benefits to all of humanity.

Leader’s Representative Lin said that APEC economies are concerned about how to properly regulate the use of AI and believe that public-private cooperation is needed to exercise suitable regulation over its use and governance so that it will become a tool that benefits all of humanity. Speaking on the outstanding performance of Taiwan’s three APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) representatives, he mentioned the Do AI Locally Yourself (DAILY) program promoted by Quanta Computer CTO Ted Chang (張嘉淵), explaining that DAILY seeks to enable medical practitioners with no coding ability to develop AI models, which promotes health equality. He also mentioned that enterprises in Taiwan have used fundus tomography to detect macular degeneration, a procedure now in use at 306 hospitals in 11 different countries. In addition, the leader’s representative said, Taiwan Mobile President Jamie Lin (林之晨) spoke about the Language Insert AI Special Edition (LIAISE) workshop, which introduced the other economies to a real-time AI translation tool which is especially useful for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises as well as female business owners that engage in international trade, contributing to inclusive growth.

On the topic of food security, Leader’s Representative Lin said that he shared our efforts in Taiwan over the course of many years to reduce food loss and waste and achieve greater efficiency in food supply chains, including the use of AI technology to increase agricultural yields. These efforts, he added, have enhanced Taiwan’s food security and provide successful models that can serve as reference for APEC economies in dealing with global food crises and making their food supply chains more resilient.

Leader’s Representative Lin then turned to the second task, namely to convey that Taiwan supports a fairer and more inclusive international trade order. He noted that there have recently been many criticisms of the function of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The leader’s representative, during discussions which included Acer Chairman Jason Chen (陳俊聖) and ABAC representatives from New Zealand, emphasized that Taiwan believes that, moving forward, the WTO must continue to play a core role in international trade, maintaining a fair, stable, and open trading system, and leading in the development of new regulations for trade and investment. He added that Taiwan supports reform of the WTO, including the reinstatement of a comprehensive dispute resolution mechanism, the launch of a new round of market access negotiations, and discussions regarding core trade and investment issues, such as trade and industrial policy, economic empowerment of women and disadvantaged groups, and spurring the emergence of a fair and open competitive trade order for the new age. At the same time, he said, APEC economies should properly appreciate the importance of promoting inclusive economic growth. He said that Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand joined forces in 2022 to establish the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), noting that its purpose is to promote the economic empowerment of indigenous peoples in the Asia-Pacific region and to provide trade and economic opportunities that will help indigenous peoples achieve economic autonomy.

On the third task, that Taiwan is willing to promote the development of digital trade among other economies, Leader’s Representative Lin said that digital trade has already become an important part of global trade. He said that Taiwan is confident we can use our strengths in digital technology – a point of pride for Taiwan – to continue spurring economic development and prosperity worldwide. This year’s leader’s declaration, he said, included advancing for all member economies an inclusive economic growth agenda that helps women, indigenous peoples, and disadvantaged groups address economic structural reforms. It also stressed, he added, the importance of ensuring energy security and increasing renewable energy capacity in order to effect a just energy transition and sustainable growth. He pointed to the declaration’s mention of digital tools and their importance in achieving inclusive growth as well as its recognition of the potential of AI for transforming various aspects of daily life across the Asia-Pacific region. As those are the fields in which Taiwan holds strengths and advantages, he said, we are very happy to see them included in this year’s leader’s declaration as the consensus of the member economies.

Leader’s Representative Lin said that during the proceedings of the leaders’ meeting, he announced on behalf of our government that Taiwan will be donating US$1 million to APEC in support of its research capabilities and its initiatives in human security, digital innovation, and women’s economic empowerment, which will aid capability building in developing economies. He pointed to the donation as demonstrating Taiwan’s active role in several leading issues and added that it will allow us to be a major part of promoting global economic development.

Leader’s Representative Lin, citing digital innovation and green economic transformation as examples, explained that particularly in terms of climate change response, hydrogen energy will become an important area of focus for all in the future. He then called on APEC to strengthen cooperation among its members to implement the APEC Policy Guidance to Develop and Implement Clean and Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Frameworks in the Asia-Pacific, passed at this year’s Energy Ministerial Meeting, and indicated that Taiwan is also actively advancing green finance and sustainable economic growth. Many economies value such experiences, he said, and have pursued innovation and development through cooperation. The leader’s representative stated that during meetings, he actively took various opportunities to interact with leaders from other countries, and that he also conversed with eight Taiwanese youth representatives who traveled to Peru to participate in APEC’s Voices of the Future program.

Leader’s Representative Lin emphasized that Taiwan has always upheld the spirit of inclusivity and cooperation, and has showed willingness to share our experiences regarding development with countries around the world. He said that looking ahead, we hope to expand exchanges with APEC economies to include even more issues and meet all challenges together. Taiwan will continue to collaborate with all APEC economies to make even more contributions to regional stability and prosperity, he said.

Leader’s Representative Lin then responded to questions from the media on how to strengthen Taiwan-Japan cooperation, his experience attending the APEC meetings again after a hiatus of 19 years, and Taiwan-United States relations, among other topics.

Leader's Representative Lin Hsin-i explains the outcomes of the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
Upon returning to Taiwan, Leader's Representative Lin Hsin-i and other members of Taiwan's delegation to the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting attend a press conference at the Presidential Office.
Upon returning to Taiwan, Leader's Representative Lin and other members of Taiwan's delegation to the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting attend a press conference at the Presidential Office.
President Lai poses for a photo with Taiwan's delegation to the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
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中文
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He stated that as we navigate the challenges of our time, from climate change to economic inequality, they believe our nations can learn from each other and work together to find solutions that benefit not just our peoples, but the global community at large. Speaker Mabuza pointed out that diplomatic relations between our two countries are a testament to our shared values of sovereignty, mutual respect, and cooperation. He stated that Eswatini cherishes the strong bonds we have forged over the years and is committed to further strengthening those ties. Whether through economic partnership, cultural exchanges, or collaborative efforts in areas such as healthcare and technology, he said, they see vast potential for growth and mutual benefit.  Speaker Mabuza expressed hope of continuing our fruitful relationship and exploring new avenues of cooperation so that together, we can build a brighter future for our citizens and contribute positively to regional and global peace and prosperity. 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中文
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President Lai interviewed by The New York Times DealBook Summit
In a recent interview via videoconference with The New York Times for its DealBook Summit, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Andrew Ross Sorkin on topics including Taiwan’s national defense, cross-strait relations, Taiwan-US relations, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the semiconductor industry. The interview was broadcast in the early morning of December 4. The DealBook Summit is a major annual event held by The New York Times aimed at facilitating dialogue among leaders from various sectors and sharing their insights and analyses on international affairs. This year’s summit was held on December 3 (US EST) in New York, and included such speakers as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Palantir CEO Alex Karp, and Turning Point USA CEO and Chair of the Board Erika Kirk. The following is the full text of the interview: Q: Here’s where I want to start the conversation. You’ve just announced this past week that you’re introducing a US$40 billion special budget for military spending to buy more weapons from the US to try to deter China from invading Taiwan. What indicators, and perhaps new indicators, are you looking at that shows an increased threat to Taiwan? President Lai: We can see that China’s military drills targeted at Taiwan are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They have even moved beyond the first island chain into the second, affecting the wider Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, China’s united front influence campaigns against Taiwan are also becoming more serious. In order to safeguard national security and fulfill our responsibility to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, we have announced this special defense budget. We believe that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. While we aspire to peace, we cannot harbor illusions about it. Peace must be secured through strength. This is why we are increasing our defense budget and strengthening our national defense capabilities, while also cutting back our economic dependence on China. This includes improving our economic resilience. In 2010, 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment went to China; last year, that figure had dropped to around 7 percent. We are also working side-by-side with other democracies to reinforce deterrence. Robust preparations are the best way to avoid war and achieve peace. Q: Let me ask you this: President Xi has said that his goal for China’s military is to be capable of taking Taiwan by force by 2027. You said that Beijing is accelerating these preparations for an attempted invasion. So what do you think China’s timeline is now? President Lai: We must ensure the best possible preparations for the worst-case scenarios. Whatever timeline the PLA may have, Taiwan’s fundamental principle is that we must be ready first – this is our basic principle. I also want to use this opportunity to reiterate to the international community that Taiwan will do everything necessary to protect itself and to safeguard regional peace and stability. We are grateful to the international community, including the G7, the president of the United States, Japan’s political leaders, and many others for their interest in cross-strait peace and emphasizing that stability in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global security and prosperity. Their shared position greatly contributes to stability in Taiwan and peace in the region. We hope Taiwan can continue working with the international community to uphold the rules-based international order. Q: Well, let me ask you about that because, Mr. President, last week you said the relationship between Taiwan and the US is rock-solid. How confident are you that the United States, and in particular President Trump, would come to the aid of Taiwan if China were to invade? President Lai: Although Taiwan and the United States do not have official diplomatic relations, Taiwan is deeply grateful to the US Congress for passing the Taiwan Relations Act and to President Ronald Reagan for the Six Assurances. For decades, successive US administrations and both parties in Congress have strongly supported Taiwan based on this foundation. Our relationship truly is rock-solid. Since President Trump took office, cooperation with Taiwan has not only continued but even expanded. We look forward to working with the United States through tariff negotiations – not only to help address their trade deficit, but also to deepen bilateral economic relations and strengthen our friendship. Q: We’ve all been watching what’s been happening play out in Ukraine between Ukraine and Russia. And there have been questions inside Ukraine about the support that the United States has provided or not in terms of how this ultimately gets settled. How do you view what’s happening in Ukraine right now and the role that the US is playing there? President Lai: Taiwan stands with the people of Ukraine. We hope this irrational and illegitimate war will be over as soon as possible so that the Ukrainian people will no longer have to suffer. However, in ending this war, we also hope that Ukraine’s national dignity and the well-being of its people will be respected, and future conflict will be prevented. Q: You talked about trade earlier. When you talk about the relationship between the US and Taiwan, one of the reasons that Taiwan is so valuable, such a strategic asset – and President Trump talks about it this way about Taiwan – is because of semiconductors. And one of the things that he says is that he hopes that the US is going to be manufacturing 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors in the next couple of years with your help. Does that make Taiwan more valuable ultimately to the US or do you worry at all that it makes it less valuable to the US? President Lai: Taiwan’s semiconductor industry plays a crucial role, especially as we enter the future AI era. But I want to emphasize, with humility, that Taiwan’s semiconductor sector is a global asset. The industry functions as an ecosystem: the US excels in R&D, design, and has the world’s largest market; Japan provides materials and equipment; the Netherlands makes advanced lithography systems; Taiwan specializes in logic chip manufacturing; and Korea leads in flash memory chips. In other words, semiconductors are a global ecosystem – it requires worldwide cooperation to be effective. This is why our government supports TSMC and other Taiwanese semiconductor firms as they invest in the US, Japan, Europe, or wherever they believe is needed. This contributes to global progress and prosperity. As a result, we remain supportive as President Trump seeks investments from Taiwanese semiconductor companies and suppliers in the US. We hope Taiwan can support the reindustrialization of the US. President Trump wants the US to become the world center for AI, and we are willing to assist in this. As I said earlier, we hope Taiwan-US tariff negotiations will not only help reduce the US trade deficit, but also deepen bilateral economic cooperation, further integrate Taiwan’s industries with the American economic structure, and strengthen the Taiwan-US relationship. This will contribute to global prosperity and development. Q: Do you think that President Trump’s timeline, this idea that 40 to 50 percent of all semiconductors could be manufactured in the United States in the next two or three years, is realistic? President Lai: We understand President Trump’s sense of urgency; he wants the United States to maintain an edge in global competition. Whether this target of 40 to 50 percent can be achieved within this timeframe depends not only on Taiwan’s support but also on the US government’s ability to facilitate land acquisition, water and electricity supply, workforce and talent development, and investment incentives. If the US government manages to do this well and effectively, then this goal becomes much more achievable. Q: There’s a big debate in the United States right now about whether companies like Nvidia should be allowed to sell their most advanced chips to China. And there has not been a real answer yet here in the US. I’m curious what you think about that. Do you think that the most advanced chips should be allowed to be exported to China? President Lai: As Taiwan’s president, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on US domestic policy. But I can share an experience: Around the year 2000, Taiwan faced a similar debate about whether our advanced chip manufacturing capabilities should move to mainland China. There was an extensive and thorough discussion across society and among different political parties. The consensus was that it would be unwise and should not happen. Looking back, that decision was correct. Had Taiwan allowed its most advanced manufacturing to relocate to China, Taiwan would not be what it is today. Q: Final question for you. Your economy is red hot right now, in large part because of the AI boom. It’s a two-part question. I wonder whether you’re worried about an AI boom being an AI bubble. And I’m also curious how you think about the Chinese economy today and how that relates to how President Xi even views Taiwan, and when and if it would consider either invading or, through using the gray zone, trying to effectively cut off or control Taiwan. President Lai: There are many different views in the tech and economic communities. Some say AI could become a bubble; others say it may not. As a political leader, I believe the AI era will bring greater convenience to people’s lives, stimulate economic development, and contribute to global prosperity. That is why we must take steps to prevent AI from becoming a bubble. In other words, leaders around the world – especially those from countries with AI-related industries – should work together and take necessary measures to ensure AI develops sustainably and has a soft landing, so that it can drive long-term global growth. China’s economy is indeed struggling. Taiwan’s growth rate this year is projected to reach 7.37 percent, while international financial institutions estimate China’s growth to be only a little above 4 percent. We sincerely hope that as China faces economic pressures, President Xi Jinping will focus not on territorial expansion but on improving the well-being of the Chinese people. Taiwan is willing to help and to cooperate in addressing these economic challenges.
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