Taiwan’s diplomatic situation has never been easy. Under constant pressure from China, every bit of space the nation gains on the international stage is a result of years of hard work by diplomats.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has recently been making frequent visits overseas, drawing criticism from some voices within the country saying he is grandstanding.
Such remarks not only demonstrate a lack of understanding of Taiwan’s diplomatic reality, but also undermine the nation’s international image.
Since taking office, Lin has touted the concept of “integrated diplomacy,” emphasizing an integrated approach leveraging Taiwan’s democratic values, alliances and the global shift towards non-red supply chains to build comprehensive diplomatic momentum.
This is not just a slogan, but a pragmatic response to Taiwan’s situation. In an era where China is blocking Taiwan’s international participation on all fronts, if Taiwan fails to flexibly integrate its domestic and international strength, it would become even more difficult for it to find new footholds on the global stage.
Last month was Lin’s season of diplomacy. First, he left for the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria on Sept. 10 to engage in cultural diplomacy and hold discussions with local political leaders regarding economic and technological cooperation.
On Sept. 23, he met with diplomatic allies on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he was photographed with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena.
On Sept. 27, he visited Poland to attend the 12th Warsaw Security Forum, where he delivered a keynote speech and brought Taiwan’s voice into European security discussions. Such an intense schedule is a heavy and thankless task.
Many diplomatic itineraries are much more challenging than they appear. As China becomes increasingly bold in its overseas intimidation tactics against Taiwan, the nation’s diplomats are working daily under immense pressure and risk to maintain their posts.
If the public continues to respond with indifference — or even mockery — it would not only fail to provide moral support to those defending the nation’s international presence, but could lead Taiwan’s international friends to mistakenly believe that even Taiwan itself lacks confidence in its own diplomatic efforts.
Taiwanese should move beyond our political differences and build consensus — not tear down or discredit our efforts. Only through unity can we give the nation’s diplomats the confidence to stand firm on the world stage.
At this moment, supporting Taiwan’s diplomatic work is not about supporting a particular political party — it is about protecting the nation’s national interests and space in the international community. This is the true spirit of Team Taiwan.
Wang Hung-jen is a professor in National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Political Science.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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