2023-05-05
ACYPL Delegation Visits DPP. Taiwan’s Vibrant Democracy Has Impressed Members.
Several members of the American Council of Young Political Leaders visited the Democratic Progressive Party yesterday morning (May 4). Both sides engaged in all-round and in-depth exchanges on topics such as Taiwan’s current political landscape, cross-strait issues, ways to counter mis- and disinformation, promotion of female workforce and the 2024 presidential election. The ACYPL delegation was received by Andrea Yang, Deputy Secretary General; Wu Jun-zhi, Director of the China Affairs Department; Juan Chun-ta, Director of the Youth Development Department; Lee Yen-jong, Director of the Gender Equality Department; and Alysa Chiu, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department.
The bipartisan delegation–accompanied by Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson and comprising Ms. Chelsea Chaney, State Government Affairs Counsel for Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois at American Family Insurance; Mr. Zachary Goodrich, Director and Legal Counsel for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Board; Mr. Hector Mujica, Head of Economic Opportunity in the Americas at Google.org; Ms. Cynthia Urban, Executive Director of the State Education Committee at the Pennsylvania State Senate; Ms. Lisa Wagor, Senior Manager of Grassroots and Civic Engagement at Target Corporation; and Mr. Mattew Whittley, Deputy Prosecutor of the Major Felony Division at Marion County Prosecutor's Office–featured youth representatives from the U.S.’s business and political communities. This visit was the first time any of the delegates–from across the U.S., of various ages, ethnicities and backgrounds, and interested in assorted issues–had been in Taiwan.
During the meeting Deputy Secretary General Andrea Yang, on behalf of Chairperson Lai Ching-te and Secretary General Hsu Li-ming, extended warm welcome to the members, thanked their concern for Taiwan, and gave a brief introduction to the history of Taiwan's democratization as well as the current plight and challenges facing Taiwan's democracy. Yang said that the DPP has always emphasized the importance of democracy and peace, and that in the face of authoritarian expansion the DPP is committed to maintaining cooperative relations with like-minded global partners. The DPP is also willing to pursue dialogue with any country, including China, based on the principles of equality, fairness and openness, she added, before noting that the DPP thanks many countries including the U.S. for their continued concern for Taiwan and their actions to support peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Apropos of cross-strait relations, Wu Jun-zhi, Director of the China Affairs Department, pointed out that nations around the world are well aware that it is China–not Taiwan–that is challenging the international situation and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The DPP believes in "peace through strength,” Wu said. “There’s no Taiwan and democracy, much less freedom, in ‘peace through capitulation.’” The DPP champions peace, will not relinquish any opportunity to seek peace, but neither will it sacrifice Taiwan’s precious democracy and freedom.
The delegates evinced great interest in how Taiwan tackles misinformation. Juan Chun-ta, Director of the Youth Development Department, said that mis- and disinformation is a very serious issue in Taiwan, causing serious harm to all generations. He took TikTok as an example. Light-hearted much of the content might appear on its face, very often it contains Chinese videos, advertisements and ideology. The public is therefore susceptible to China’s propaganda, unwittingly. Besides, TikTok poses a grave information-security peril, which is why at present Taiwan’s public sector places significant restrictions on employees’ use of the software. On this issue, the delegates shared the actual cases where state government units and education sectors enacted regulation restricting the use of TikTok, as well as ways to improve users’ internet literacy.
Regrading the delegates’ questions about Taiwan's response to issues such as declining birth rates, labor force development and education, Juan noted the DPP administration has in recent years introduced many reform packages aimed at improving the childcare and long-term care systems, as well as social-housing and rent-subsidy schemes to help young people start a family. Alysa, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department, said that in response to declining birth rates, the government has introduced many generous subsidies in recent years, encouraging women and even men to take parental leave to take care of their child. On childcare and education, the government has significantly lessened young parents’ burden through improved public management and subsidies. The government is also working hard to promote and foster a more friendly workplace environment.
Meanwhile Lee Yen-jong, Director of the Gender Equality Department, shared with the delegates the efforts the DPP has made to improve gender equality and advance progressive values. With respect to the reflections spurred by artificial intelligence, she said the rise of AI has generated many discussions, including on many’s concerns that AI will displace office workers. Though many of today’s technical jobs are not easily replaceable by AI, it is indeed a challenge of this era.
As the delegates are set to depart for the U.S., they also shared what impressed them most during their first visit to Taiwan. Mr. Mujica particularly pointed out that as a minority he found Taiwan’s efforts to speak up for itself, pursuit of equality and collective awareness of the importance of self-rule resonate and hit close to home. Ms. Urban, meantime, noted that during this trip she was able to acquire a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s democratic process and present situation. She undertook that after returning to the U.S. she will share what she had seen and learned in Taiwan with more Americans as best as she can, so as to call more attention to Taiwan-related issues.
ACYPL is a national organization sponsored by the U.S. government and adopting a bipartisan cooperation model. It comprises young leaders with political potential, and has undertaken frequent, friendly interactions with Taiwan for more than 30 years. Before the pandemic, Taiwan would regularly invite delegations from ACYPL to visit for the purpose of promoting the understanding of young American political leaders about Taiwan, thereby deepening Taiwan-U.S. relations. This delegation is the very first organized by ACYPL to Taiwan in the post-Covid era, which in and of itself is meaningful
