I would like to welcome you to the 2025 Taipei Security Dialogue. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for taking time from your busy schedules to join us today. It is a privilege to host distinguished experts from across the globe as we come together under this year’s theme: “Integrated Deterrence: Maintaining Peace through Strength in the Indo-Pacific.”

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East remind us that conflict, even when seemingly distant, carries global consequences—human suffering, economic disruption, and political instability. These tragedies underscore a hard truth: peace is never guaranteed. It must be defended, and it requires collective effort.

The Indo-Pacific is no exception. Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has become more repressive at home and aggressive abroad. China deploys military coercion, economic pressure, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and other hybrid threats against Taiwan, endangering the stability of the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, China is aligning with other authoritarian powers—what we may call an “Axis of Upheaval”—to extend its reach and undermine peace across the region.

Taiwan stands at the heart of this struggle—geographically as the linchpin of the first island chain, technologically as home to the world’s most advanced semiconductor ecosystem, and politically as a beacon of democracy. A conflict in the Taiwan Strait would not be a local crisis; it would be a global crisis. Put simply: a Taiwan contingency is a world contingency.

In the face of these challenges, Taiwan is not only strengthening our defense capabilities, but also mobilizing our society through the Whole of Society Resilience Committee. At the same time, we are deepening cooperation with the US, Australia, India, Japan and other partners. Our purpose is not to provoke conflict, but to deter it. Unity and integrated deterrence are the surest means to maintain peace, democracy, and stability.

This year’s Dialogue will address five critical themes: the international security landscape, societal resilience and defense deterrence, asymmetric strategies, emerging technologies such as AI and UAS, and the influence of non-military power.

We are confident that today’s keynote addresses and panel discussions will generate valuable insights on how Taiwan and our partners can advance integrated deterrence, foster greater exchange, and strengthen cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

Thank you once again for your presence. I wish you a productive and inspiring dialogue.