Foreign minister Lin’s outreach aims to raise Taiwan’s global profile
外交部長林佳龍此舉旨在提升台灣的國際影響力。
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has worked to raise Taiwan’s profile on the international stage since his appointment in May 2024.
Foreign governments and news media have taken notice of Lin’s diplomatic outreach, lauding his visits to Japan, the Philippines, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, and New York City in the US while the United Nations General Assembly was taking place. In addition to organizing a behind-the-scenes meeting with NATO, it is also reported that the minister made a secret diplomatic visit to Paris in September, per Nikkei. Lin’s efforts to shore up diplomatic partnerships and economic relations reached a high point last week when he accompanied Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) to Brussels, where Hsiao delivered a speech to the European Parliament. Commentators have noted that the event marks a turning point in Taiwan-EU relations. Throughout his travels, Lin has emphasized that Taiwan is a reliable and responsible partner eager to form mutually beneficial partnerships with nations around the world. According to Lin, Taiwan aims to assist in Europe’s strategic reindustrialization and act as a critical partner in building a “non-red” supply chain to thwart China’s global hegemonic ambitions. Nikkei Asia reported that despite Taiwan’s diplomatic challenges, including domestic legislative gridlock, Taiwan’s foreign relations under Lin’s leadership are showing signs of success. The report noted the “breakthrough” of the recent diplomatic trip to Brussels and signs that the US is also keen to engage more seriously with Taiwan by joining Taipei’s Global Cooperation and Training Framework. Lin has promoted the idea that countries can maintain a China policy but also develop a Taiwan policy to their own benefit, despite objections from Beijing. Many European nations readily recognize China’s aggressive tactics as similar to those of the Soviet Union in the 20th century and understand the danger that Taiwan faces. Europe, along with partners like Japan and the US, has a strong interest in pursuing exchanges with Taiwan for economic reasons and national security. Lin said that the more countries he visits on his campaign to promote Taiwan’s international profile, the more difficult it becomes for Beijing to cow or retaliate against individual nations. |
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| Duncan DeAeth Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2025-11-16 |
