Taiwan on List of Summit for Democracy Invitees 12/9-12/10白宮民主峰會 110國受邀含台灣

US President Joe Biden will host the virtual Summit for Democracy on Dec. 9 and 10. On Nov. 23, the Department of State announced the list of 110 invited countries, which included Taiwan. It is currently unknown whether President Tsai Ing-wen will personally attend. China, Singapore, and Russia were not on the list.

Antony Blinken (March 10, 2021), US Secretary of State: “I'm absolutely committed to working on it (an invitation). I share your view that Taiwan is a strong democracy, a very strong technological power.”

In March, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress that Taiwan would be invited to the Summit for Democracy hosted by US President Joe Biden. On Nov. 23, the Department of State posted the list of 110 invited countries on its website, and Taiwan was one of them. Other invitees included Lithuania, which has recently strengthened its relations with Taiwan, as well as South Korea and Japan. China, Singapore, and Russia did not receive invitations.

Joanne Ou, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “(Can you comment on the White House's invitation to Taiwan to participate in the Summit for Democracy?). Thank you. We will offer an explanation at the appropriate time. Thank you everyone for the hard work.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu did not respond to questions about the summit when asked on Nov. 24. The Summit for Democracy is scheduled to take place virtually on Dec. 9 and 10, and themes are "defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights." 

It is presently unknown which countries have accepted the invitation, and whether President Tsai Ing-wen will represent Taiwan.

Liu Shyh-fang, Legislator (DPP): “It is an honor for the people of Taiwan to be invited to the inaugural Summit for Democracy. What's more important is a degree of resilience against authoritarianism that can be seen and heard by these heads of state at the Summit for Democracy.”

The American Institute in Taiwan said Taiwan can make a meaningful contribution to the summit. The US media has reported that the US invited Taiwan out of solidarity even though the invitation may infuriate China.
 

「當然我們準備（邀請），我也很同意你的看法，我認為台灣是強健的民主政體和科技重鎮。」美國國務卿布林肯3月曾在聽證會上承諾，將邀請台灣參加美國總統拜登主持的民主峰會，23日國務院官網貼出受邀名單，台灣就在名單當中。歐洲主要國家包含近期跟台灣關係升溫的立陶宛，日本、韓國等共有110國，不過中國、新加坡、俄羅斯則沒有受邀。

外交部發言人歐江安對此回應:「適時說明，感謝，我們適時說明，謝謝大家，辛苦了。」

外交部長吳釗燮上午被詢問民主峰會議題時沒有多做回應，民主峰會將在12月9日、10日以線上方式召開，主題為「抵禦威權主義，打擊腐敗和促進對人權的尊重」。但目前各國的出席名單還沒公佈，我方是否將由總統蔡英文親自代表備受關注。

民進黨立委劉世芳認為:「可以獲邀參加首屆民主峰會是全體台灣人民的光榮，更重要的是對抗強權上面的一個韌性度，可以被全世界民主峰會的這些國家元首看得到、聽得到。」

AIT表示，台灣參與民主峰會可做出有意義的貢獻。美國媒體分析，華府邀請台灣意在展現團結，但此舉有可能激怒北京。