憂心台灣在國際話語權缺席...AIT前處長司徒文推動「台灣倡議計畫」：讓世界聽見台灣的聲音

過去三十年來，我親眼見證台灣在民主轉型、經濟發展與公民社會建設上的卓越表現。台灣在許多領域早已成為亞洲的典範，甚至足以啟發西方民主國家的反思與學習。

然而，令人遺憾的是，當國際社會討論印太地緣政治、台海安全情勢、或科技產業戰略時，媒體與政策圈中鮮少出現台灣人自己的聲音。這樣的現象，既令人憂心，也不公平。

從華府、倫敦、東京、雪梨、到布魯塞爾，我參與過無數場有關東亞安全的會議，也讀過數以百計的政策簡報與媒體評論。每當涉及台灣議題時，發言者通常來自美國、英國、日本、澳洲、或歐洲的智庫與軍事機構。即使評論內容關乎台灣本身，代表台灣立場的聲音卻常常被邊緣化，或只是作為引述的客體，而非主體。這對於一個民主自由、資訊透明、人才濟濟的國家而言，實在說不過去。

台灣並不是沒有觀點，而是沒有出口。

台灣學者缺乏國際發聲習慣   長期沉默要付出哪些代價？

我曾與多位台灣學者與政策分析者深談，他們對於台中關係、國防策略、區域外交乃至半導體戰略的理解之深，常令我驚艷。但遺憾的是，這些觀點往往侷限於中文媒體和台灣國內論壇；我的觀察是，台灣的學者專家們似乎普遍缺乏向國際主流媒體投書的習慣或動機。

長期而言，這樣的沈默代價極高。因為國際輿論場，尤其是英語與日語主導的媒體世界，並不只是信息傳遞的平台，更是國際觀點形成、政策制定與外交斡旋的前哨戰。當你缺席，就意味著你的故事、你的立場、你的正當性，都由別人來詮釋，甚至扭曲。

我知道非母語寫作的門檻對許多台灣專家而言的確存在；此外，缺乏媒體人脈與在外國投稿經驗也讓人卻步。但這些都不是無法解決的問題。

事實上，正因為近年人工智慧與大型語言模型的進步，讓語言不再是最主要的障礙。再加上有意識的推動與鼓勵機制，台灣完全有能力建立一個能在國際社會發聲的生態系統，進而實質影響美國、日本、澳洲及歐洲等國的對台政策。

這也是我對「台灣倡議計畫」感到特別欣慰與期待的原因。

台灣倡議計畫：一場媒體外交革命

這個計畫不求成立另一個智庫，也不靠政府動用龐大資源，而是以一種精準而務實的方式，鼓勵台灣學者與專家投書國際主流媒體。透過具體的獎勵機制與快速的內容審查協助，「台灣倡議計畫」降低了投稿門檻，提升了被採納的機會，更重要的是，讓台灣的觀點開始有機會「走出去」。

我認為這不僅是一項媒體倡議，更是一場外交革命。

當國際媒體願意主動引用台灣專家的觀點，當國際政策討論開始納入台灣的思考與警示，這個島嶼的戰略地位與政治正當性，將不再只是依賴外部朋友的背書，而是逐步建立起自身能見度與論述主權。這對於提升威懾力、抵禦認知戰與形塑區域秩序而言，意義深遠。

台灣若不主動發聲　將被中國敘事洪流吞沒

我常說一個國家不只是靠軍隊守護自己，更要靠敘事與觀點在國際間立足。而在這個充滿競爭與假訊息誤導的全球媒體環境中，台灣若不主動發聲，將被更大的敘事洪流所吞沒。尤其是在習近平早已要求中國人在國際社會要「講好中國故事」，而其對台侵略的野心與實力日益增强的今天。

我衷心希望，台灣的年輕學者與有志之士，能把參與國際評論視為一種責任，而不只是個人榮耀。這是一項長期工程，需要一點點策略、一點點耐心，還有非常多的練習與支持。但正因為我相信台灣社會的多元、開放與專業，我相信這條路是走得通的。

當年我第一次踏上台灣土地時，便被這裡的人情與堅韌所打動。如今身為台灣的一位住民，我更希望看到這個地方能在全球公共領域中，站上應有的位置。

這正是我們推動「台灣倡議計畫」（Taiwan Advocacy Project, https://taiwanadvocacy.org/ ）的初衷。

讓世界聽見台灣的聲音，現在正是時候。

Let the World Hear Taiwan’s Voice: Why We Launched the Taiwan Advocacy Project

 

William Stanton, former AIT Director

 

As a retired senior American diplomat who spent much of his career posted around the world—and who has now chosen to make Taiwan his home—I can say that my connection to this beautiful island goes far beyond professional experience. Taiwan was not only one of the most admirable partners in my diplomatic service, it has also become the place where I’ve found peace in retirement. Precisely because of my deep love for this land, I feel a growing sense of unease about Taiwan’s absence from the global conversation.

 

Over the past 30 years, I have witnessed Taiwan’s remarkable progress in democratic reform, economic development, and civil society. In many areas, Taiwan has become a model for Asia, even offering valuable lessons for Western democracies. Yet despite all this, when the world discusses Indo-Pacific geopolitics, the Taiwan Strait, or strategic issues in the tech sector, the voices of Taiwanese experts are conspicuously missing from the international media and policymaking circles. This is not only troubling—it is profoundly unfair.

 

In posts around the world, I’ve participated in countless meetings and conferences on East Asian security and read hundreds of policy briefings and media commentaries. When Taiwan is mentioned, the speakers are almost always think tank analysts or military experts from the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Australia, or Europe. Even when the topic is directly related to Taiwan, the Taiwanese perspective is often sidelined—cited at most, but rarely given center stage. For a democratic, open, and talent-rich society like Taiwan, this situation is simply unacceptable.

 

Taiwan is not lacking in insight—it is lacking in channels to share that insight.

 

I’ve had in-depth conversations with many Taiwanese scholars and policy analysts. Their understanding of cross-Strait relations, national defense, regional diplomacy, and semiconductor strategy is often strikingly incisive. But regrettably, their views tend to remain within the Chinese-language media or domestic fora. From my observations, most Taiwanese experts lack the habit—or perhaps the motivation—of submitting commentary to major international outlets.

 

Over time, this kind of silence comes at a steep price. The global discourse, especially in English- and Japanese-speaking media spaces, is more than just an arena for information exchange. It is the front line where international narratives are formed, policies are shaped, and diplomacy begins. If Taiwan remains absent from this stage, its story, its positions, and its legitimacy will be interpreted—or distorted—by others.

 

I understand that for many Taiwanese professionals, writing in a non-native language presents a real challenge. The lack of media contacts or experience publishing internationally is also daunting. But these are not insurmountable obstacles. In fact, with the rise of AI and large language models like ChatGPT in recent years, language barriers are no longer the main constraint. With the right push and the right support, Taiwan can absolutely build a sustainable ecosystem for international engagement—and in doing so, influence how countries like the United States, Japan, Australia, and those in Europe formulate their Taiwan policies.

 

This is exactly why I’m so encouraged and hopeful about the Taiwan Advocacy Project.

 

This initiative is not about building another massive think tank, nor does it rely on government funding. Instead, it adopts a targeted, practical approach to support and encourage Taiwanese scholars and experts to publish in major global media outlets. Through concrete incentives and fast-turnaround editorial support, the project lowers the barriers to submission, increases the likelihood of publication, and—most importantly—gives Taiwanese perspectives a real chance to reach the world.

 

I believe this is not just a media campaign—it is a form of narrative diplomacy.

 

When international media begin quoting Taiwanese experts directly, and when policy discussions incorporate Taiwan’s unique insights and warnings, this island’s strategic importance and political legitimacy will no longer rely solely on external endorsements. Instead, Taiwan will build its own visibility and narrative sovereignty. This will have far-reaching implications for deterrence, cognitive warfare, and regional stability.

 

I often say: a country does not defend itself with armies alone—it also needs to stand tall in the global narrative space. In a world flooded with disinformation and competing propaganda, if Taiwan does not speak up, it risks being overwhelmed by louder and more coordinated narratives. This is especially urgent now that Xi Jinping has explicitly instructed Chinese diplomats and media to “tell China’s story well,” while his ambition—and capability—to dominate Taiwan grows by the day.

 

I sincerely hope that Taiwan’s next generation of scholars, analysts, and public intellectuals will see participation in global commentary not just as a personal achievement, but as a civic responsibility. This is a long-term project. It requires strategy, patience, practice, and support. But because I believe in the diversity, openness, and professionalism of Taiwanese society, I am confident that this path is achievable.

 

The first time I set foot in Taiwan, I was moved by the warmth and resilience of its people. Now, as a resident of this remarkable country, I hope more than ever to see Taiwan claim its rightful place in the global public sphere.

 

This is precisely the intention behind our promotion of the Taiwan Advocacy Project (https://taiwanadvocacy.org/).

 

Let the world hear Taiwan’s voice—there is no better time than now.