Former Polish President Lech Wałęsa lauded Taiwan’s ability to maintain equilibrium amidst Chinese pressure during a visit for the Smart City Summit & Expo.
Wałęsa Commends Taiwan’s Resilience
Lech Wałęsa assessed that Taiwan excels at maintaining balance against pressure from Beijing, and dominance based on force is doomed to fail, in an interview published Tuesday by CNA news agency, coinciding with his participation in the 9th Yushan Forum and the opening of the Polish pavilion at the Smart City Summit & Expo.
“Taiwan is facing many crises and challenges, and China often exerts pressure, but Taiwan has achieved a very good balance. This is admirable, Taiwan is a master,” said the Polish Nobel laureate.
Taiwan as a Model for Democratic Chinese-Speaking World
Wałęsa emphasized that “the Chinese-speaking area must demonstrate unity,” but this process should be based on “good principles,” for which democratic Taiwan, not a communist system, has ready-made solutions.
No Easy Path to Unity, Wałęsa Jokes
When asked about a specific path to unity in the world, he admitted there is no ready-made recipe. “If I knew, I would have received another Nobel Prize,” he joked, adding that Taiwan must “choose its own path.”
World Trending Towards Unipolarity
According to Wałęsa, the world is currently undergoing a reconfiguration towards unipolarity. He warned that the dominance of one superpower – whether the US, Russia, or China – means the relative weakness of other countries, therefore Taiwan must precisely define its position to avoid being “taken over.”
Warning to China: Lessons from the USSR
Wałęsa directed a warning to China, invoking the lesson from the fall of the USSR. He noted that the Soviets, despite occupying half of Europe, ultimately lost, proving that solutions imposed by force are ineffective.
Polish Presence at Taiwan’s Smart City Expo
Wałęsa visited Taiwan on the occasion of the Smart City Summit & Expo 2026. The former president’s visit is linked to an invitation to the Yushan security forum, where Wałęsa spoke on Monday, and participation in the Polish delegation at the Smart City Summit & Expo 2026. Poland opened its national pavilion there for the first time, primarily featuring companies and local governments from Pomerania, including Gdańsk and Gdynia.
The fair will take place in two stages: March 17-20 in the capital, Taipei, and March 20-22 in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. It is one of the most important technology events in Asia. The Polish delegation informed PAP that its “presence is consistent with a consistent strategy of building the international position of Pomerania as an industrial and technological region of European and global importance” and building lasting business partnerships and the transfer of solutions for smart cities.
