PR-2011
April 30, 2020
United States, Taiwan, and Japan Conclude the first
Virtual Global Cooperation and Training Framework (vGCTF) Workshop
on Combatting COVID-19 Disinformation
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was pleased to co-host the first virtual Global Cooperation and Training Framework (vGCTF) workshop on Combatting COVID-19 Disinformation with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association on April 29.
In an effort to comply with Taiwan CDC recommendations on events and gatherings and to accommodate participants unable to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this workshop was conducted on a digital platform with over 80 participants tuning in from Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and six other countries. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Destro, Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Hsu Szu-chien, and Chief Representative of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei office Hiroyasu Izumi each gave opening remarks to open the event.
Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang, a thought leader on this topic, joined experts from the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) and Taiwan, and Malaysia’s tech and academic communities in sharing valuable analysis and effective tactics for combatting COVID-19-related disinformation during this global pandemic.
At the end of the virtual program, AIT Director Brent Christensen delivered concluding remarks, in which he thanked our partners, panelists, and attendees for helping to make the very first GCTF virtual workshop a success. “We are all doing our best to continue our important work while taking the necessary steps to protect ourselves, our colleagues, and our communities,” he said.
Participants convened in a virtual video conferencing room to discuss trends, share lessons learned and best practices, and look for opportunities to deepen international cooperation to combat COVID-19 disinformation.
AIT remains committed in supporting Taiwan in its efforts to play a more active role in the international community as a responsible global citizen. As Assistant Secretary of State Destro said in his opening remarks, “It is no secret that Taiwan is leading the Indo-Pacific region in its handling of COVID-19. You are serving as an inspiration for the world, and we are grateful for your leadership. All of us are learning from the Taiwan Model – a fact that underscores that democracies have the clear upper hand over authoritarian regimes when it comes to fighting this virus.”
