Ex-Danish PM calls on Europe to enhance Taiwan ties

Taipei, March 17 (CNA) Visiting former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday called on Europe to forge closer relations with Taiwan on all fronts, in particularly with the return of the "American First" policy under United States President Donald Trump.

In his luncheon keynote address at a Taipei forum, Rasmussen said the world has witnessed the return of "American First," referring to Trump's second term as American president whose first priorities are domestic issues instead of maintaining Washington's leading position on the world stage.

Rasmussen said that though he was disturbed by that, "there is a silver lining -- both for Europe and for Taiwan" with Trump's return to the White House.

"For far too long, Europe thrived on cheap Russian energy, cheap Chinese goods, and cheap American security," said Rasmussen, who served as Denmark's prime minister from November 2001 to April 2009.

Europe is now "waking up to the old motto on the Washington Korea memorial which says: 'Freedom is not Free,'" he said.

Europe must now step up and pay the price needed to defend itself, meaning more defense spending, more investment in critical infrastructure, and more focus on societal resilience for European countries, he said.

"In some ways, President Trump is doing us a favor. This kind of changed mindset has been needed in Europe for some time," said the Danish politician who also served as NATO secretary general from August 2009 to October 2014.

While the most immediate threat to Europe is Russia, Rasmussen warned that "dictators are looking at what happens in Ukraine and drawing their own lessons."

According to the former Danish prime minister, the U.S.' "hard pivot away" from Europe is "driven by a focus on power competition in the Pacific," as "China is the existential threat to American hegemony."

"If the United States is vacating its role as champion of freedom and democracy, Europe's friendship with Taiwan must now enter a new golden era."

Rasmussen said that Europe must strengthen its economic and trading relations with Taiwan by building on the European Union's Chips Act "to significantly expand our tech diplomacy and cooperation."

"Above all, Europe must stand with Taiwan -- economically, politically, even militarily. Not just because of some short-term interests but because, in a dangerous and unpredictable world, freedom fighters stand together," he said.

Rasmussen made the remarks during a luncheon on the first day of the two-day Yushan Forum, which opened in Taipei on Monday.

Meanwhile, during the same luncheon, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said Taiwan is striving to ensure it remains "irreplaceable and indispensable as a trusted economic and trade partner to the world" against the backdrop of an "unprecedented" geopolitical and economic landscape.

Taiwan takes its promise to uphold geopolitical stability seriously, Hsiao said.

"At the same time, Taiwan is much more than a geopolitical headline. We have a lot to offer the world. And the world can benefit from having a strong Taiwan," she added.

The 2025 Yushan Forum is being held under the theme of "New Southbound Policy+: Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and a New World."

The annual forum aims to include more like-minded partners in discussions on how Taiwan is taking advantage of smart, digital and innovative, solutions to promote the so-called "Digital New Southbound Policy," according to organizers.