On the morning of March 18, 2026, the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed H.E. Lech Wałęsa, former President of Poland for a discussion with the trainees of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers Professional Training Program.
The Hon. François Chihchung Wu, Deputy Foreign Minister and IDIA Chancellor, said in his remarks that he had long admired President Wałęsa’s courage in defending democracy and human rights during his student days, it is a great honor to personally receive him at the IDIA, hoping that the trainees would carry forward H.E. Wałęsa’s conviction to build a better new order for the world.
H.E. Wałęsa warmly shared with the trainees the importance and necessity of overthrowing communist regimes, explaining how he used freedom and the rule of law to overturn communist regimes, which produced a bipolar standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States. He noted that those old orders now face bottlenecks, and we must continue to uphold the spirit of freedom and the rule of law, using peaceful means to address current international challenges and establish a new order. H.E. Wałęsa also emphasized that history has shown communism is unworkable in China, and that Taiwan’s outstanding political and economic performance offers a good model for the world.
In response to trainees’ questions about transitional justice, the comparative strengths and weaknesses of capitalism and communism, and his personal philosophy of life, H.E. Wałęsa answered each in turn and said he was pleased to be at the IDIA to engage with young diplomats and learn their perspectives on international affairs. He hoped the discussion would give the trainees different viewpoints and help them face diplomatic challenges with broader thinking.
H.E. Wałęsa’s talk concluded to enthusiastic applause; his words and example left a deep impression on the trainees, who gained an appreciation of a democratic model of resisting authoritarianism through the exchange.