Taiwan's former president will headline a major US conference on technology and security, a modest diplomatic win for Taipei's effort to stay central to Western tech and defense planning.

• Tsai Ing-wen will open Stanford's 2026 technology and national security conference on October 7.
• Her office says she will use the platform to explain Taiwan's role in critical technology and as a front line for democracy.
• The event is run by Stanford's Gordian Knot Center and brings together academics, government, military and tech industry figures.
• Topics include artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, space technology and commercial intelligence — all areas where Taiwan's chip industry is pivotal.
• The goal is deeper cooperation between Taiwan and allied countries on both security and trade.

Outlook: Expect the speech to push Taiwan's chip and tech leverage as a reason for stronger Western backing, and expect Beijing to object.