TAIPEI (TVBS News) — French President Emmanuel Macron praised Taiwan's disinformation combat system Thursday (Nov. 27), recognizing the island's success in defending against attacks from neighboring authoritarian regimes, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) announced via social media. Lin highlighted Taiwan's efforts as a model for France's own public safety initiatives, emphasizing the international recognition of Taiwan's democratic resilience strategies.
Lin emphasized that democratic nations must enhance citizens' risk awareness and response capabilities to counter emerging threats. France's new public safety guide, "Tous Responsables Face aux Risques, Agissons," mirrors Taiwan's recent guide, "In Case of Crisis: Taiwan's National Public Safety Guide" (全民安全指引), reflecting shared concerns about societal resilience, he noted. Both documents address threats including natural disasters, military aggression, and cybersecurity attacks.
Taiwan has faced significant information manipulation challenges in recent years from authoritarian neighbors, Lin said. The country has built societal resilience through systematic education programs, government transparency measures, and active civic engagement initiatives. Government initiatives and grassroots efforts, including comprehensive media literacy education and independent fact-checking programs, demonstrate democracy's robustness in countering disinformation threats, he stated.
France drew inspiration from Sweden and Finland's civil defense models to develop its comprehensive public safety guide, with France's General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN) spearheading the initiative to enhance national preparedness. The guide includes detailed crisis preparedness tips and practical advice at individual, community, business, and state levels to help citizens respond effectively to various emergencies.