Farkas meets with Taiwan Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation Kono Taro, United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 12, 2024) – McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas returned this week from a visit with international partners in Japan and Taiwan to reinforce the McCain Institute’s continued commitment to protecting democracy, combating disinformation, and upholding human rights in the region.
“As threats to democracy and human rights rise in east Asia, it was important to hear first-hand from leaders who are working ‘in the arena’ to uphold peace and security, including McCain Institute honorary Kissinger Fellow Kono Taro” said McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas. “Global security is a joint effort, and our transpacific partners are invaluable to battling the authoritarianism and autocracy that threatens the region and democracies worldwide.”
The meetings with international leaders and organizations such as the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Taiwan Association for Human Rights, International Republican Institute, and Sasakawa Peace Foundation focused on addressing the most pressing issues facing democracy and relationships between the United States, Taiwan and Japan.
Dr. Farkas met with government leaders including United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Takehiro Funakoshi, former Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Ambassador Yukio Takasu, Taiwan’s Vice Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Horng-Huei Po, Vice Minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Deputy Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Wen-Chieh Liang, and Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao.
The McCain Institute partnered with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation to host a conversation with McCain Institute honorary Kissinger Fellow and Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation Kono Taro about how governments can combat disinformation in the digital realm.
Dr. Farkas also convened with preeminent groups in national security, policy, and democracy including the Japan Center for International Exchange, the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Doublethink Lab and Forward Alliance.
Interested in learning more? Reach out to [email protected].