Taiwan – an interesting country with inspiring people

Representative Nan-Yang Lee is an experienced diplomat with a distinguished career in international relations, including service in the United States and Ireland. Currently serving his second term in Slovakia, Rep. Lee holds a profound personal affection for Slovakia. As a dedicated bridge-builder, Rep. Lee has been the driving force behind Taiwan-Slovakia relations, successfully facilitating numerous high-impact bilateral cooperation projects and significantly strengthening ties between the two nations. Beyond his diplomatic achievements, the personal experiences he has shared during interviews are particularly moving and inspiring.

Your personal story is very powerful—what was going through your mind when you decided to return to Taiwan after studying in the United States, despite the challenges and expectations around you?

After studying in the United States, I came to realize that, at the time, the U.S. was ahead of Taiwan in both environmental conditions and economic development. This also helped me understand why so many students from around the world choose to study there.

However, rather than feeling discouraged, this gap led me to reflect more deeply on Taiwan’s potential and my own sense of responsibility. I believed that Taiwanese people are hardworking, resilient, and capable—and that we should be able to build our own country to the same level of excellence. That conviction became a turning point for me. I made a firm decision to return to Taiwan, because I wanted to contribute to its development and be part of its progress.

Another important factor was the geopolitical situation. At that time, Taiwan faced external pressure and threats from China, which strengthened my sense of mission to protect and contribute to my country. I asked myself: if we all chose to leave, who would stand up to safeguard Taiwan?

Of course, I was not alone in this thinking. Many Taiwanese who studied or worked in the United States later chose to return home, bringing back knowledge, experience, and a strong commitment to building Taiwan’s future. A well-known example is Morris Chang, who, after a long and successful career in the U.S. semiconductor industry, returned to Taiwan to found Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Another example is Stan Shih, who, with international exposure, built his career in Taiwan and co-founded Acer, a key player in the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry. In my own way, I see myself as part of this broader generation—one that chose to come back, invest in Taiwan, and help shape its transformation.

Looking back, how did that decision shape your career?

After returning, I chose to serve in the public sector, focusing on media policy, foreign affairs, and international engagement. This allowed me to work at the intersection of communication, governance, and diplomacy, and to play a role in connecting Taiwan with the world.

Over time, I was entrusted with greater responsibilities, including serving as a presidential spokesperson and later taking on a senior leadership role within the Presidential Office. These experiences gave me a front-row seat to Taiwan’s transformation—not only in terms of its technological and economic growth, but also in how it positions itself diplomatically and engages with the international community.

Looking back from where I stand today, I have no regrets about that decision. Taiwan’s development has been driven by contributions from many different sectors. While some helped build world-class industries, others worked to strengthen institutions, shape policy, and expand Taiwan’s global presence. I see my role as part of this broader effort—helping to communicate Taiwan’s story, advance its foreign policy, and support its continued progress on the global stage.

Many young people today choose to stay abroad—why do you think returning home is still important?

Returning home remains important because it is a way to contribute directly to the development of one’s own society and to give back to the place that shaped you. While countries like the United States offer strong job opportunities and industry clusters, I believe Taiwan has a unique energy—an environment that is dynamic and resilient, where individuals can make a meaningful impact.

What are the biggest barriers that prevent talented young people from returning to their home countries?

The most significant ones are often career opportunities and compensation, as well as the scale and diversity of industries compared to larger economies. In addition, concerns about long-term career development, work environment, and the ability to continue engaging with the global stage also play an important role.

Ultimately, making the decision to return is not just about where the opportunities are, but also about where one feels they can contribute the most and create the greatest long-term impact.

Taiwan is often seen as a global leader in innovation—how important was the return of talent in building this success? From your perspective, what can governments do better to attract back their brightest minds?

Taiwan’s success in innovation is closely tied to the return and circulation of talent. From my perspective, talent is the most important factor—without the right people, policies and resources cannot be fully effective.

To attract the talents, governments should focus on creating a fair, efficient, and transparent environment where talent can develop and contribute.

In Taiwan, strong industrial foundations—such as the Hsinchu Science Park and others—provide a favorable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, with administrative convenience and a single-window service that helps streamline processes for businesses and startups.

These factors, combined with close collaboration between government, industry and education, help create an ecosystem where talented people can thrive and make an impact, making the decision to return home a natural one.

What specific policies or ecosystem factors in Taiwan helped retain or bring back talent?

Taiwan’s strength lies in its integrated industrial ecosystem, efficient administrative systems, and strong collaboration between government and industry—factors that together make it a place where talent can both stay and return to contribute meaningfully.

Moreover, technology policies and talent development programs in Taiwan are often designed in partnership with enterprises, ensuring that training and education are closely aligned with real industry needs.

This approach allows talent to transition more smoothly into the workforce and to see tangible results from their contributions. As a result, individuals are more likely to feel that their work has real impact, which strengthens both talent retention and the willingness to return.

What message would you share with leaders and policymakers about the importance of investing in people, not just infrastructure?

I believe infrastructure and talent are complementary and both essential. Infrastructure provides the foundation for development and creates the conditions for growth, but it is talent that truly enables the system to function and continuously innovate. Without skilled people, even the best infrastructure cannot reach its full potential.

In our Taiwan–Slovakia semiconductor cooperation, for example, we have supported the establishment of semiconductor laboratories at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, while also helping to cultivate local talent and technical capabilities.

As a message to policymakers and readers, I would emphasize that build- ing and sustaining talent connections is a long-term investment. It is equally important for governments to create a favorable environment for retaining talent—one that encourages innovation, supports startups, and provides clear pathways for young people to grow. When the government stands as a strong partner and supporter of the younger generation, a country is far more likely to retain its talent and fully realize its potential.

How would you describe Taiwan’s approach to engaging with the international community today, and what message would you like to share with Slovakia and other Central and Eastern European partners?

Taiwan’s engagement with the international community today is focused on transforming our domestic strengths into areas for global cooperation. These include our capabilities in technology, governance, healthcare, agriculture, green energy, and local development. Rather than simply exporting these strengths, we aim to turn them into collaborative solutions that allow us and our partners to grow together.

Through this approach, Taiwan seeks to be a reliable partner—one that is built on trust, shared values, and practical cooperation. We position ourselves as a “trusted democracy,” a “trusted technology partner,” and a “trusted partner” that is committed to contributing positively to the international community.

To our friends in Slovakia and across Central and Eastern Europe, Taiwan stands ready to work together, to share experiences, and to build mutually beneficial partnerships. We look forward to deepening cooperation and growing together in a spirit of openness, trust, and shared prosperity.