At the Halifax Security Forum, our Associate Editor, Jake Sanders had the opportunity to engage with prominent figures such as Joseph Wu, National Security Adviser of Taiwan, Jonas Parello Plesner from the Alliance for the Defence of Democracies, Paula Dobriansky of Harvard University and Senior National Security Expert, as well as other distinguished guests. The discussions centered around global security challenges and the strategic alliances needed to address them. The event showcased insightful dialogues and fostered greater understanding among key stakeholders.
在哈利法克斯安全论坛上，我们的编辑杰克·桑德斯（Jake Sanders）有机会与台湾的国家安全顾问吴钊燮（Joseph Wu），捍卫民主联盟的乔纳斯·帕雷罗·普莱斯纳（Jonas Parello Plesner），哈佛大学的高级国家安全专家宝拉·多布里安斯基（Paula Dobriansky），以及其他杰出嘉宾进行了交流。讨论集中于全球安全挑战和应对这些挑战所需的战略联盟。此次活动展示了富有洞察力的对话，并促进了主要利益相关者之间的更深入了解。
Taipei – The Halifax International Security Forum commenced a special gathering in Taipei yesterday, under a cloud of uncertainty fueled by the potential shift in U.S. foreign policy under the new Trump administration. The opulent Mayfull Hotel is the sponsored venue for the event, providing VIP treatment and complimentary first-class accommodations to attendees from around the globe.
President Lai was prominently seated at the opening ceremony, surrounded by a host of distinguished guests. However, media access was tightly controlled, with limited opportunities for open questioning and a program largely consisting of closed-door sessions.More than half the ”press conference” was taken up by opinions from the event host and sole sponsor followed by limited questions from hand picked journalists beginning with Chris Buckley of the New York Times.
This year’s special forum faces significant challenges. Reports indicate a freeze on funding for many think tanks and NGOs associated with the Halifax Forum, including the organization itself. This financial lifeline was reportedly severed due to a shift in priorities by the new U.S. administration, which has signaled a reduction or complete withdrawal of support for such initiatives. The forum was only made possible by the generosity of UMC founder, Robert Tsao.
Despite these challenges, the tone of the conference remains defiant. Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax Forum, reiterated the narrative of Russia’s setbacks in Ukraine and the purported success of Western objectives. This stance stands in stark contrast to the narrative emerging from the new Trump administration. Van Praagh drew parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan, also attempting to reinforce the relevance of the Halifax Forum.
The atmosphere at the conference has palpable unease regarding the potential implications of potential reduced U.S. support. Several key questions remain unanswered:
When Trump was first elected president, he took a call from Tsai Ing-wen,but did not respond to Taiwan this time around, what happened there?
Trump has recently repeatedly demanded that Taiwan increase its defense budget and pay protect ion fees to the United States. Does this indicate a downturn in U.S.-Taiwan relations?
At last years forum held in Canada in November 2024, many guests had already offered suggestions to Taiwan. It has been three months since then; have any concrete measures been implemented?Does it have any practical significance for Taiwan?
Could the Taiwan authorities formulate policies more pragmatically to truly make Taiwan develop better?
Will this year’s forum in Taipei be any different from those of recent years, which often devolve into high-profile talk shops? Despite the pronouncements from talking heads and the undeniable value of bringing influential figures together, some may wonder if the lavish, five-star atmosphere ultimately eclipses tangible action, leaving the forum remembered more for its complimentary junket than concrete policy changes.
理查·桑德斯，台北
台北—在川普新政府可能轉變美國外交政策的陰影下，哈利法克斯國際安全論壇今天在台北展開了一場特別聚會。富麗堂皇的台北美福大飯店是本次活動的贊助場地，為來自世界各地的與會者提供貴賓級待遇和免費頭等艙住宿。
賴總統顯著地坐在開幕典禮上，周圍圍繞著許多尊貴的賓客。 然而，媒體的採訪受到嚴格控制，開放提問的機會有限，而議程主要由閉門會議組成。超過一半的「記者會」被活動主辦方和唯一贊助商的意見所佔據，隨後是精選記者提出的有限問題，首先是《紐約時報》的克里斯·巴克利。
今年的特別論壇面臨重大挑戰。 報告顯示，與哈利法克斯論壇相關的許多智庫和非政府組織，包括論壇本身，都面臨資金凍結。 據報導，這種財政生命線被切斷，是因為川普新政府的優先事項發生了轉變，已發出信號將減少或完全撤回對此類倡議的支持。 這次論壇的舉辦完全仰賴聯華電子創辦人曹興誠的慷慨解囊。
儘管面臨這些挑戰，會議的基調仍然充滿了抗拒意味。 哈利法克斯論壇主席彼得·范·普拉格重申了俄羅斯在烏克蘭遭受挫折以及西方目標所謂成功的說法。 這種立場與川普新政府出現的說法形成鮮明對比。 范·普拉格將烏克蘭和台灣進行比較，並試圖強化哈利法克斯論壇的重要性。
會議的氣氛中瀰漫著對美國可能減少支持的潛在影響的不安情緒。 幾個關鍵問題仍然沒有答案：
川普第一次當選總統時，他接了蔡英文的電話，但這次沒有回應台灣，那裡發生了什麼事？
川普最近多次要求台灣增加國防預算並向美國支付保護費。 這是否表明美台關係正在走下坡路？
在去年2024年11月於加拿大舉行的論壇上，許多嘉賓已經向台灣提出了建議。 三個月過去了； 是否有任何具體措施得到實施？ 它對台灣有任何實際意義嗎？
台灣當局是否能夠更務實地制定政策，真正使台灣發展得更好？
今年在台北舉行的論壇是否會與近年來的論壇有所不同，後者往往淪為高調的清談館？ 儘管演講者的發言以及匯集有影響力的人物無可否認的價值，但有些人可能會想，豪華的五星級氛圍最終是否掩蓋了切實的行動，使論壇更多地因其免費的豪華旅遊而聞名，而非具體的政策轉變。
Jake Sanders with Jonas Plesener
