Against the backdrop of exponential growth in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, global politics and international governance are undergoing drastic changes. Recently, Europe and Taiwan have taken key actions in the fields of AI safety, transnational foreign policy, and digital resilience. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a policy speech outlining a new vision for EU international cooperation, including seeking to make Canada the EU's first "associate member." Meanwhile, Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs, Huang Yen-Chih, led a delegation to the United States for in-depth dialogues with the U.S. government and tech giants, aimed at addressing increasingly complex cybersecurity and geopolitical risks.

These events collectively reflect the efforts of the global democratic camp to rebuild lines of defense for digital governance amidst the tech race and geopolitical turmoil.

According to multiple public reports and official information, global technological security has become a core agenda for governments worldwide. Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs, Huang Yen-Chih, led a delegation to Washington D.C. to engage with U.S. government departments, think tanks, and tech giants such as Meta, OpenAI, and Amazon. The focus covered AI governance, cybersecurity, and communication resilience, demonstrating that Taiwan is actively aligning its own experience with U.S. policies. In Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the concept of incorporating Canada into the EU system; while restricted by EU treaty provisions from becoming a formal member, the move demonstrates the EU's intention to expand transatlantic cooperation.

Furthermore, the incident involving a train attack in Ukraine, which affected European officials including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, highlights the direct threat posed by Eastern European geopolitical conflicts to European security officials.

Although governments are actively seeking cooperation, there remains a significant gap between academia and the political sphere regarding the assessment of AI technology risks. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of AI," publicly warned in an interview with the BBC that under a capital-driven arms race, the speed of AI evolution has outpaced the development of safety mechanisms, predicting a greater than 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within the next decade. This view stands in stark contrast to the "digital resilience" and "industrial cooperation" currently promoted by governments.

There is currently no consensus on whether AI should be strictly regulated by the government or driven by market mechanisms, which has become the greatest uncertainty in future international governance.

These technological and political trends have had concrete impacts on the global digital industry and geopolitics. For Taiwan, digital resilience cooperation with the U.S. is not only an enhancement of industrial competitiveness but also a vital line of defense for national security. For Europe, von der Leyen's initiative reflects the EU's attempt to strengthen regional influence by deepening ties with non-EU countries in the face of global competition. However, the threat posed to European officials by the Russia-Ukraine war and the potential risks of out-of-control AI technology demonstrate that international governance must not only face the opportunities of digital transformation but also address the complex challenges where physical conflicts and virtual risks intertwine. Policymakers are currently attempting to strike a balance between promoting innovation and ensuring security.

Regarding the aforementioned issues, the outside world should not over-interpret the effectiveness of any single policy. For example, the cooperation concept between the EU and Canada still faces legal restrictions under EU treaties, and its practical execution details and political feasibility remain subject to subsequent negotiations. While Hinton's warning about an AI apocalypse is based on his professional background, it remains a prediction, and there are differing voices in academia regarding the assessment of AI risks. Furthermore, although digital cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. has entered a stage of substantive dialogue, how these consensuses will be translated into specific cybersecurity standards and industrial policies remains dependent on the progress of future bilateral agreements.

As countries pursue digital sovereignty, avoiding the trap of protectionism and technological blockades will be a key constraint for future international governance.

Looking ahead, the focus will be on three aspects: First, whether the EU can break through treaty limitations to reach a substantive associate membership model with Canada, thereby changing Europe's international governance structure. Second, whether Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs can implement relevant technical cooperation into domestic cybersecurity infrastructure after its visit to the U.S. Finally, whether governments worldwide will formulate stricter international regulatory treaties in response to the extreme AI risks proposed by Hinton. These developments will determine the direction of global digital governance over the next decade and the collective defense capabilities of nations in responding to the risks of runaway technology.