Representatives of the New Europe Center — Nataliya Butyrska, Associate Senior Fellow, and Krystyna Zelenyuk, Associate Fellow — together with Mykhailo Samus, Director of the New Geopolitics Research Network, conducted an advocacy visit to Taiwan from March 22 to 26.

Over five intensive days of high-level meetings, public events, and expert discussions, held jointly with colleagues from the Czech European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC), the focus was on the current situation on the frontlines of Russia’s war against Ukraine — particularly drone technologies, opportunities for bilateral cooperation, and sharing Kyiv’s experience in countering Russian aggression, including in civilian and information domains.

During meetings at the National Security Council with Deputy Secretary-General Fei-Fan Lin, and at the Mainland Affairs Council with Deputy Minister Dr. Yu-chung Shen, discussions centered on threats posed by China — including when Beijing might launch aggression against Taiwan and what lessons Taipei has already drawn from Russia’s war against Ukraine.

At the Institute of International Relations, the New Europe Center team, together with Mykhailo Samus and Czech EVC colleagues, participated in a roundtable discussion addressing Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea and the threats it poses not only to Ukraine but also, critically, to Taiwan. During a meeting with students at the National Defense University, the team provided a detailed overview of the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the weapons used on the battlefield, and the realities faced by civilians under constant large-scale air attacks.

At the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, discussions focused on the course of the war, as well as opportunities and challenges for developing defense cooperation between Europe and Taiwan. Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s technological solutions in drone warfare, as well as issues of energy and societal resilience in times of crisis and broader regional security trends.

Meetings with Michael Chen, Director of International Affairs, and politician Fan Yun of the Democratic Progressive Party, as well as participation in a roundtable with the RSF Taiwan Press Freedom and Resilience Committee and the fifth Czechia-Taiwan Forum — where the team served as key speakers — focused largely on the resilience of democratic societies at war, the challenges of influencing authoritarian “axis” countries (Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran), and cognitive warfare operations conducted using generative AI.

The team also held a dedicated meeting, together with Czech EVC colleagues, with Dr. Eric Huang, Director-General for European Affairs at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in drone technologies, and highlighted shared threats posed by China and its strategic partnership with Russia.

The visit marked an important step in strengthening cooperation between the New Europe Center and Taiwan’s analytical and expert community, deepening mutual understanding of shared security challenges and exploring avenues for future collaboration.

We express our sincere gratitude to our partners at the Czech European Values Center for Security Policy for their support in organizing high-level meetings during our visit to Taiwan.

The advocacy visit of the New Europe Center to Taipei (Taiwan) was supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.