Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry Thanks Macron for Praise on Anti-Disinformation Efforts

French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Taiwan’s efforts in combating disinformation, highlighting the island’s system as a potential model for France to emulate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced yesterday.

During his “tour of France” seminars on Wednesday, Macron addressed challenges posed by “democracy being tested by social media and algorithms” and specifically recognized Taiwan’s systematic approach to countering information warfare attacks from China, according to MOFA.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed gratitude for Macron’s acknowledgment, noting that disinformation and external interference have become common challenges for democracies worldwide. The ministry highlighted how Taiwan has developed societal resilience and transparency mechanisms in response to persistent threats from authoritarian expansion and information warfare.

“Taiwan’s experience could serve as reference for international friends,” MOFA stated. “The nation is willing to continue deepening cooperation with like-minded countries, including France, share methods for countering information manipulation, jointly enhance democratic resilience, and work together to combat disinformation.”

Taiwan has become increasingly recognized for its innovative approaches to combating disinformation. The government has implemented a rapid response system to address false information, particularly during election periods and crises. Civil society organizations and tech companies have also played crucial roles in fact-checking initiatives and media literacy campaigns.

This recognition from France comes at a time when democratic nations worldwide are grappling with the proliferation of disinformation campaigns, often attributed to authoritarian regimes seeking to undermine democratic processes and institutions.

In separate diplomatic news, Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben Ramirez Lezcano stated that his country aims to become “a model of friendship with Taiwan,” according to the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament.

Ramirez made these remarks during a meeting on Friday with a cross-party Taiwanese legislative delegation led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang in Asuncion. Paraguay remains one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, as Beijing has succeeded in persuading many countries to switch recognition to China in recent years.

“Paraguay and Taiwan are like-minded allies that put much emphasis on freedom, human rights and the rule of law, so Asuncion will continue to support Taipei in its quest to become part of international organizations,” Ramirez was quoted as saying.

The Paraguayan foreign minister emphasized the complementary nature of the bilateral relationship, noting that “Paraguay has abundant natural resources and Taiwan has advanced technologies,” suggesting this creates a strong foundation for cooperation.

Chiang expressed gratitude for the warm reception his delegation received, stating that they felt “at home” in Paraguay. He pledged that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan would promote cooperation plans to strengthen ties between the two nations.

The Taiwanese delegation also visited the Republic of China embassy in Paraguay and met with Taiwanese technical personnel stationed in the country, as well as overseas Taiwanese living in Asuncion, before departing for Dallas on Friday afternoon.

Taiwan maintains official diplomatic relations with just 13 countries globally, making Paraguay’s continued support particularly significant amid China’s intensified diplomatic isolation campaign against the self-governing island. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and actively works to limit its international presence and recognition.

These diplomatic developments underscore Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to maintain and strengthen its international partnerships while building resilience against various forms of pressure from China, including information warfare and diplomatic isolation.