Taiwan President Lai Ching-te addressed the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026 by video on 12 May, calling for democracies to unite against growing authoritarian pressure.
Speaking at the summit in Copenhagen, President Lai said democracies cannot “stand on the sidelines” as authoritarian regimes increase military intimidation, cyberattacks and economic coercion. He said Taiwan stands on the frontline of defending democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Taiwanese president highlighted Taiwan’s semiconductor and AI industries, saying the island would continue working with democratic partners including Europe, the US and Japan to strengthen resilient supply chains and regional stability.
The Copenhagen Democracy Summit was hosted by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, founded by former Danish Prime Minister and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Participants included Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and political leaders, academics and democracy advocates from Europe, North America and Asia.
