According to the United Daily News and the Taipei Times, former president Tsai Ing-wen delivered a keynote on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Stanford Conference on Technology and National Security, titled "Building Security Together: Taiwan's Role in Global Stability." The event was hosted by Stanford DEFCON, a student network under the university's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, and was followed by a fireside chat moderated by copresident Gordon Kim. Tsai arrived in San Francisco on Monday for a week-long stay, her first US visit since finishing two four-year terms in May 2024.

"Self-Defense and Freedom of Action"

The United Daily News reported that Tsai said Taiwan faces cyberattacks, cognitive warfare, information manipulation, economic coercion and attempts to damage critical infrastructure almost every day, and that keeping the peace cannot mean preparing only for one large-scale military contingency. Taiwan must preserve its own confidence and freedom of action and keep strengthening its self-defense capability in case deterrence fails. She cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine to show that major war can break out even among deeply interdependent economies, and that advanced weapons are consumed quickly but take longer to replenish.

She also said Chinese military aircraft, warships and coast guard vessels operate ever more frequently around Taiwan while deliberately avoiding open conflict, aiming to raise Taiwan's costs, test its responses and gradually reshape the security environment. This is Tsai's assessment; Beijing has criticized the trip, including through a Global Times editorial.

"Not Only a Recipient of Support, but a Producer"

Tsai stressed that many international reports still portray Taiwan as a place of security risk or a recipient of foreign aid, whereas it is one of few democracies able to add manufacturing capacity and help solve supply problems. The Taipei Times reported her saying that the US accounts for about three-quarters of global AI computing capacity, that Taiwanese firms make nearly all the advanced chips used in those systems, and about 90 percent of the AI servers built around them. She also noted the Taiwan Strait is among the world's most important trade and energy routes.

In closing, she said a secure and resilient Taiwan helps sustain Indo-Pacific stability, and that as many democracies rebuild manufacturing no country can do it alone and Taiwan should be part of the effort. MBA student Chang Chia-chi, who attended, said Tsai's remarks echoed the growing number of Taiwan discussions in her classes.

San Francisco National Day Reception

The same day, Tsai also appeared at the San Francisco Bay Area National Day reception. The United Daily News said it was the first time a former head of state had attended such an event in the region, delighting the overseas community. She thanked compatriots who work in Silicon Valley and help the US understand Taiwan better; they gave her a box of handmade chocolates including her favorite coriander flavor. She toured four Taiwanese vendor booths outside, was surrounded by people seeking photos after her remarks, and at Stanford wrote "graduate soon" for a doctoral student.