DEMOCRACY

Asian youth stand in solidarity with global liberal partners

More than 130 young liberal leaders from around the world gathered in Taipei, Taiwan, for the 58th General Assembly of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), held from 11–14 June 2026. Founded in Europe, IFLRY is the world's oldest international liberal youth organization and has since expanded across Latin America, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia, creating a global platform for young liberals to exchange ideas and shape international policy.

This year's General Assembly marked a significant milestone for IFLRY and Asia. Three Asian youth organizations successfully applied for Observer and Associate Member status, further strengthening the region's representation within the global liberal movement.

The Assembly itself was characterized by lively debate, policy discussions, resolution drafting, and democratic voting. Delegates from member organizations competed for opportunities to present their perspectives, negotiate policy positions, and influence the federation's direction.

Reflecting on the experience, IFLRY President Hania Knio remarked, “This GA asked a lot of us. It asked us to show up honestly, to sit in hard conversations, to trust a process even when it was uncomfortable, and to keep believing in this federation even when believing took real effort.”

For many Asian participants, witnessing this democratic process reinforced the importance of becoming active contributors to international liberal politics not merely as observers, but as voices representing the region's unique experiences and challenges. Following the successful approval of its IFLRY membership application, the Liberal Youth Movement of Sri Lanka reflected on social media: “Bound by a shared belief in freedom, we now stand side by side with the world to defend it.”

Among the newly admitted organizations was the youth wing of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which was granted Observer status. As both a co-host of the Assembly and a new member of the federation, the DPP Youth Department highlighted Taiwan's growing contribution to international youth activism and democratic cooperation in Asia. Asian representation within IFLRY was further boosted by the admission of Kilos Ko Youth from the Philippines as an IFLRY Associate Member.

Throughout the Assembly, current parliamentarians and public officials from Taiwan and Japan discussed democratic resilience, drawing comparisons between Taiwan and Ukraine as societies confronting increasing authoritarian pressure. Representatives from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) also shared experiences of engaging young people in democratic participation across Southeast and East Asia during plenary discussions.

During a visit to the Presidential Office Building, delegates were welcomed by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to liberal democracy and its aspiration to remain a positive force in both Asia and the international community. Reflecting on global democratic challenges, Vice President Hsiao emphasized Ukraine's resilience in resisting Russian aggression, stating, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine continued to cause casualties and suffering, reminding the world of the value of freedom and the importance of fully preparing and strengthening resilience in the face of the threat of authoritarianism.”

Beyond the conference, participants deepened their understanding of Taiwan's democratic journey through meetings with government officials and legislators, as well as a visit to the National Human Rights Museum, where they learned about Taiwan's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.

The General Assembly was preceded by a three-day academy jointly organized by Germany's Junge Liberale and CALD Youth from 9–11 June 2026. Bringing together young political leaders from Germany and Asia, the academy provided a more intimate setting for dialogue on democratic resilience, geopolitical challenges, and strategies for strengthening youth movements.

Participants explored how different regions respond to authoritarian pressures, exchanged experiences from civil society, and collaborated on policy ideas aimed at empowering liberal youth organizations across continents. The programme also featured a discussion on Germany's Indo-Pacific policy with Karsten Tietz, the Director General of the German Institute Taipei.

Together, the academy and the General Assembly demonstrated that liberal youth movements are increasingly building partnerships that extend beyond national and regional boundaries. As authoritarian challenges continue to grow, young leaders from Asia, Europe, and beyond are working together to strengthen democratic resilience and ensure that the defense of freedom remains a shared global effort.

*Hnin Wint Naing is the regional communication officer of the Asia office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.