BANGKOK — Taiwan showcased its ambitions to become a global “AI Island” at a grand celebration marking the 114th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Bangkok. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand hosted over 1,000 distinguished guests on October 6 at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, highlighting Taiwan’s pivotal role in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries while reinforcing its strong partnership with Thailand.
Director-General Peter Lan and his wife presided over the celebration, which coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival. In his keynote address, Lan described Taiwan through three words: beautiful, innovative, and resilient.
Taiwan’s Strengths and Global Role
Lan highlighted Taiwan’s reputation as one of the world’s safest and most welcoming travel destinations, attracting over 10 million tourists annually before the pandemic. In 2024 alone, nearly 400,000 Thai visitors traveled to Taiwan.
He emphasized Taiwan’s critical role in global AI, semiconductor, and ICT industries, ranking 6th out of 69 economies in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. “Major tech giants including NVIDIA, Microsoft, AMD, and Micron have established R&D centers in Taiwan, demonstrating Taiwan’s vital role in driving global innovation and its ambition to become an AI island,” Lan said.
Taiwan’s economic resilience was demonstrated by its over 8% GDP growth in Q2 2025—the highest in Asia. President Lai Ching-te has committed to increasing the national defense budget to 3% of GDP and advancing ESG goals for a sustainable future.
Taiwan-Thailand Partnership
Lan noted the strong bilateral relationship, with Taiwan ranking as Thailand’s 4th largest foreign investor and 5th largest trading partner as of 2024. The Royal Project, initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great in the 1960s, continues to benefit over 200,000 Thais across seven provinces. Approximately 200,000 Taiwanese currently reside in Thailand, while Thailand is Taiwan’s 6th largest source of international students, sending over 4,700 students to Taiwan last year.
Lan concluded by urging both nations to build on their enduring friendship and forge a promising future through pragmatic cooperation, closing with best wishes for Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand.
Event Highlights
The venue featured an ice sculpture of “114” with surfaces decorated in wafer patterns—key materials in semiconductor chip production—alongside a Taiwan map embedded with PCB circuit patterns, symbolizing Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global semiconductor industry and its “AI Island” vision.
The event included screenings of the 2025 National Day video “Taiwan the Resilient,” showcasing Taiwan’s achievements and spirit of unity. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan Tourism Bureau set up exhibition booths promoting economic services, the “Taiwan International Tradeshows 2026,” and tourism destinations.
For the first time, renowned Taiwanese businesses were invited to set up booths offering authentic bubble tea, while the Thai-wan Chamber Orchestra performed classical music and traditional Taiwanese folk songs throughout the evening.
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