Participants described the Muslim community as a “strategic asset” for connecting Taiwan with the Muslim world.

The meeting, titled “Islam: The Hidden Pillar of National Security of the Republic of China,” was held on August 11 at Taipei Grand Mosque. The event examined the role of Taiwan’s Muslim community in economic, social, scientific, and international relations.

At the meeting, Cheng Tai-hsiang, chairman of the Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation and a former Taiwanese representative to Turkey, referred to the history of Islam in China and said that Taiwan’s Muslim community could serve as a bridge between the island and the Muslim world.

Participants also highlighted the significant role of Muslims, particularly Indonesian workers, in sectors such as elderly care, fishing, agriculture, and the food industry. According to figures presented at the meeting, around 200,000 Indonesian care workers are currently living and working in Taiwan.

The meeting also stressed the need to provide greater facilities for Muslims, including halal restaurants and suitable spaces for prayer. The role of Taipei Grand Mosque in Taiwan’s historical relations with Islamic countries was also highlighted.

Participants ultimately emphasized that Taiwan’s Muslim community could serve not merely as a religious minority, but as an economic, social, scientific, and diplomatic asset for expanding Taiwan’s ties with the Muslim world.

Source: Muslims Around the World