The world's democracies are facing "the greatest challenges" since the Cold War as the likes of Russia and China continue working to erode democratic institutions, President Tsai Ing-wen said at an international democracy event in Taipei, while calling for a better understanding of authoritarian regimes to counter their influence.

Democracies that value the rule-based international order are facing "the greatest challenges since the Cold War," Tsai said at the Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy (WMD), referring to the geopolitical competition between the United States and the Soviet Union from the end of World War II to the early 1990s.

The 11th WMD global assembly is being held from Oct. 25-27 in Taipei, where more than 300 activists, politicians, and donors from 70 countries have been brought together to discuss ways to counter authoritarian challenges and foster democratic momentum, the WMD said.

According to Tsai, Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the end of February has shown the world that authoritarian regimes will do whatever it takes to achieve their expansionist ambitions.