While meeting with Scott Busby, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the US Department of State on the morning of September 11, President Tsai Ing-wen stated that tactics used to spread disinformation have continued to evolve in recent years, impacting stable development in the region. Thus, it is now more important than ever that democratic countries come together to face these challenges, she said. The president expressed hope that the Indo-Pacific Democratic Governance Consultations will serve as a platform for regular exchanges and coordination between Taiwan and the United States, allowing us to share our experiences and successes in democratic governance with regional partners, and help foster good governance in the Indo-Pacific.

A translation of the president's remarks follows:

I would like to welcome Deputy Assistant Secretary Busby to Taiwan to represent the US government at this year's International Workshop on Defending Democracy through Media Literacy under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), and the first-ever Indo-Pacific Democratic Governance Consultations.

As you all know, tactics used to spread disinformation have continued to evolve in recent years, impacting stable development in the region. That is why it is now more important than ever that democratic countries come together to face these challenges.

This second International Workshop on Defending Democracy through Media Literacy will help further strengthen citizens' ability to identify disinformation, and offer us an opportunity to exchange ideas with global policymakers on how to combat this threat.

We are pleased to see more and more countries join Taiwan and the United States in defending our shared values. In fact, both Japan and Sweden have begun cohosting GCTF events this year.

Taiwan and the United States will also be cohosting the first Indo-Pacific Democratic Governance Consultations this week, demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to promoting freedom, democracy, and good governance in the region. Utilizing our successful experience under the GCTF, we hope to use these consultations as a platform for regular exchanges to coordinate policies and formulate cooperative programs. This platform will allow us to share our experiences and successes in democratic governance with regional partners, and help foster good governance in the Indo-Pacific.

Like the United States, Taiwan is committed to safeguarding the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. And these two major events exemplify that Taiwan and the United States are partners that can contribute to the Indo-Pacific region. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the US government for continually acknowledging Taiwan's democratic achievements, and demonstrating strong support for Taiwan.

I want to once again welcome Deputy Assistant Secretary Busby to Taiwan, and wish you all a smooth and successful visit.