Taiwan's former president used a Stanford forum to push back on pressure from Beijing, framing Taiwan's democracy as a strength rather than a vulnerability — a confident message for Taiwan's partners, a pointed one for China.

• Tsai Ing-wen said no threat or coercion will stop Taiwan from taking part in and contributing to the world.
• She argued democracies now face pressure from two sides: more aggressive authoritarian influence from outside, and populism and extreme division inside.
• AI is making it easier to run information manipulation campaigns across languages and borders, deepening those splits.
• During her time in office Taiwan raised defense spending by more than 80% while the economy grew nearly 40%, with money going into asymmetric weapons and critical infrastructure.
• Her pitch to Washington: working with Taiwan is not charity, it strengthens a wider system of peace, trade, technology, and democratic cooperation.

Outlook: Expect Taipei to keep leaning on this framing — democracy, resilience, partnership — as President Lai Ching-te continues the defense buildup and courts US support.