Strengthening Democratic Partnerships: Markéta Pekarová Adamová’s Visit to Taiwan

In January 2026, former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited Taiwan for a week-long program organized by the European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC) Taiwan Office. The visit demonstrated how sustained, multi-level engagement can translate shared democratic values into concrete cooperation across political, economic, and societal domains. 

A defining feature of the visit was its ability to bridge political divides and institutional levels. In Taipei, Pekarová Adamová engaged with senior representatives of the executive branch, including President William Lai, as well as national security officials and policymakers. At the same time, discussions extended to legislators, municipal leaders, and opposition figures, ensuring cross-party participation. This inclusive approach was particularly visible during the delegation’s visit to Taichung, where meetings involved legislators from different political parties alongside city officials. These exchanges highlighted Taiwan’s openness to bipartisan international engagement and reinforced Czechia’s role as a trusted partner across Taiwan’s political spectrum. 

The program deliberately moved beyond the capital to showcase Taiwan’s regional diversity and economic strengths. In Taichung, one of Taiwan’s key industrial hubs, the delegation explored advanced manufacturing ecosystems and visited HIWIN Technologies, a Taiwanese company with operations in Czechia. This engagement provided a tangible example of how Taiwan–Central Europe cooperation is already embedded in global supply chains. Such regional outreach not only broadened the scope of dialogue but also underscored the importance of subnational diplomacy, including city-to-city partnerships like the Prague–Taipei relationship. 

Across meetings with government officials, security experts, and civil society actors, democratic resilience emerged as a central theme. Discussions addressed the evolving security environment in the Taiwan Strait, including grey-zone coercion, information manipulation, and economic pressure. A public keynote event in Taipei attended by policymakers, diplomats, journalists, and civil society representatives provided a platform to connect European and Indo-Pacific perspectives. Pekarová Adamová emphasized that democracies must pair values with practical resilience, including strengthening supply chains, cybersecurity, and institutional capacity. 

Importantly, the visit also created space for bottom-up dialogue. A dedicated civil society working breakfast brought together Taiwanese organizations working on human rights, media integrity, migrant rights, and counter-disinformation. These exchanges highlighted that democratic resilience depends not only on state institutions but also on vibrant civic ecosystems and independent media. 

The visit demonstrated that security and economic cooperation are increasingly intertwined. Engagements with Taiwan’s drone and space industry stakeholders illustrated how innovation ecosystems—linking government, academia, and private companies—contribute to both economic competitiveness and national resilience. Concrete opportunities for Taiwan–Czechia collaboration were identified in dual-use technologies, including unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and transportation infrastructure. Discussions with private-sector actors further explored pathways to facilitate market access and joint development projects. 

The visit combined high-level symbolism with practical outcomes. The awarding of the Order of Brilliant Star by President Lai underscored the strength of Taiwan–Czech relations, while the program’s diverse engagements ensured that this symbolism was matched by substantive dialogue and actionable cooperation. By bringing together stakeholders across party lines, sectors, and regions, the visit exemplified a model of integrated diplomacy—one that connects political leadership with industry, civil society, and local governance.

Markéta Pekarová Adamová’s visit reinforced the growing strategic convergence between Taiwan and Central Europe. More importantly, it demonstrated that meaningful partnerships are built not only through high-level meetings but through sustained, inclusive dialogue across societies. As democracies face increasingly complex security and economic challenges, such cross-regional engagement will be essential to strengthening collective resilience and ensuring that cooperation delivers tangible results.