In the 21st century, the Indo-Pacific region is becoming the world’s political and economic center. In recent years, it has evolved into a strategic hotspot. Countries such as the United States, Japan, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, as well as the European Union, have published strategic plans or documents regarding the region.
Taiwan has great strategic importance and advantages with regard to the common goals of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity. The issue of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait continues to receive international attention and has been recognized as indispensable to global security and prosperity. Taiwan is a strategic nexus in the Indo-Pacific and, as such, can play a significant role and make notable contributions.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cohosted the annual Ketagalan Forum—Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue with domestic think tanks since 2017. Attendees have included prominent political figures, experts, and scholars from friendly countries, who gather to discuss traditional and nontraditional threats and dynamic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Via this platform, nations in the region are making connections and, through ongoing dialogue, doing their utmost to advance peace, security, and prosperity.
The Ketagalan Forum covers a wide variety of topics. Over the years, a number of luminaries have delivered keynote speeches at the event. They have included former Japanese Prime Minister and Chief Executive Advisor of the Constitutional Democratic Party Yoshihiko Noda, former Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Japanese Prime Minister and Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party Taro Aso, former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former US Vice President Richard Cheney, former US National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, former Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense Taro Kono, former US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, former US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, and former Australian Minister of Defense Christopher Pyne.
By hosting the Ketagalan Forum, Taiwan demonstrates its determination to address the security issues of today and its commitment to being a proactive and reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific.