To enhance the security resilience and transnational response capabilities of global communications infrastructure, the “Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) – International Workshop on Strengthening Communications Network Resilience,” jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Digital Development, officially opened on Jan. 21 in Taipei. The event attracted more than 190 government officials, scholars, experts, and industry representatives from 26 countries and regions, focusing on challenges such as natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks, and geopolitical risks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release in the evening, noting that to improve the security and responsiveness of communication systems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Digital Development, and Taiwan offices of the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom are co-hosting the “GCTF International Workshop on Strengthening Communications Infrastructure Resilience” in Taipei from Jan. 21–23.
High profile figures deliver opening remarks
The workshop specially invited high-profile figures to deliver opening remarks, including U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Koepcke, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Representative Kazuyuki Katayama, Taiwan Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai, and Ministry of Digital Development Administrative Deputy Minister Yeh Ning. They jointly emphasized the importance of communications resilience for national security and economic development.
Participants conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as submarine cable protection, incident response mechanisms, alternative communications technologies, and cross-sector collaboration, and visited key communications and digital infrastructure in Taiwan to promote practical experience sharing and international cooperation.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated that since its establishment in 2015, GCTF has been an important platform for Taiwan to deepen cooperation with like-minded partners. By hosting annual workshops on different topics, it strengthens the coordination and response capabilities of democratic countries in facing emerging global threats. This year’s focus on communications network resilience demonstrates tangible results in promoting both value-based diplomacy and practical cooperation.
For the best of our weekly content！
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Check your email to complete sign up
Enhancing international technical exchanges and policy dialogues
The Ministry emphasized that in the context of rapid digital development and increasing geopolitical tensions, strengthening the robustness and recovery capacity of information and communications infrastructure not only helps counter cybersecurity attacks and disinformation risks, but also enhances international technical exchanges and policy dialogues, increasing the collective resilience of global democratic partners in facing threats.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) stated in a press release that participants in this GCTF international workshop will visit Taiwan’s Space Center and Yilan Toucheng submarine cable landing station to gain firsthand understanding of Taiwan’s measures and practical experience in strengthening communications and digital infrastructure resilience.
AIT noted that expert discussions will focus on submarine cable protection and repair, resilience of ground and airborne communications systems, and the critical role of satellite communications in crisis scenarios. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the workshop centers on enhancing communications infrastructure resilience, addressing challenges such as natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, geopolitical risks, and aging facilities, while exploring key topics including submarine cable protection and repair, and ground, airborne, and satellite communications from the perspectives of policy and governance, international cooperation, and public-private collaboration.