Int'l security forum hosting Taipei event to show solidarity: Organizers

Taipei, Feb. 20 (CNA) The organizers of an international security forum said Thursday they chose Taiwan for their first event outside North America to demonstrate support for democracy and freedom.

"Taiwan is a vital democracy whose continued freedom and security is important not only to the people of Taiwan but to the security of the entire world," HFX President Peter Van Praagh said at a press conference before the two-day HFX Taipei kicked off.

The HFX is a Washington-based organization that has held the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada every year since 2009.

"Through HFX Taipei, I wanted to bring democracies to Taipei to see and understand why Taiwan deserves the international community's friendship and support," Van Praagh added.

The two-day event, which ends Friday, is featuring meetings between Taiwanese government officials and foreign experts to explore ways to increase cooperation and protect democratic societies, he said.

Meanwhile, UMC founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠), who helped to co-organize the Taipei event, said he had been aware of the HFX since last year and was glad to see an organization embracing Taiwan instead of China.

"So, over the last year, the Halifax International Security Forum has sent invitations to many friends internationally, helping to attract friends from the United States, Japan, Europe and the rest of the world to Taiwan, to stand in solidarity for democracy, freedom, and shared values."

By holding the event in Taipei, Tsao said he wanted to send a message to the world that Taiwanese people may have different political views but that their differences do not come at the expense of the nation's security.

With the uncertainty brought by the second Donald Trump administration, Tsai said Taiwan needs to show that it is opposed to any annexation attempt from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

According to organizers, the two-day event features on-and-off record speeches by former government officials and scholars around the world, including former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Akie Abe, wife of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on issues concerning democracy, security, resilience and partnership.