At the AI x Democracy Forum in Taipei, Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, argued that Taiwan’s democratic development and technological innovation have been intertwined since 1987—and that the AI era now raises new tests for cities and democracies.
Lin drew a symbolic through-line from 1987—when martial law ended and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was founded by Morris Chang—to Taiwan’s modern democratic consolidation, noting 2026 marks 30 years since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996. He emphasized that Taiwan’s democracy is rooted in local autonomy, citing local elections dating back to 1950, and said effective local government must reflect daily civic life while strengthening democracy over the long term.
Speaking from his experience as Taichung mayor, Lin said smart applications helped solve urban governance problems—but warned that “malicious” actors can exploit information technology to manipulate narratives, increase division, and make public consensus harder to reach. He framed AI as a paradigm shift that can either upgrade urban governance or introduce new vulnerabilities.
The international forum was organized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and hosted by former digital minister Audrey Tang, the 2025 World Leader in AIWS Award Recipient. It convened local-government participants and international organizations from Europe, North America, and Latin America—and included a public-facing format experiment: a debate featuring academics and AI chatbots on technology’s role in policymaking.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/01/28/2003851347
