A petition in Ukraine is urging Kyiv to establish reciprocal representative offices with Taipei as a sign of democratic solidarity.
The petition, posted on the Ukrainian president’s online portal on Monday last week, had 289 signatures as of press time last night.
It needs at least 25,000 signatures from Ukrainians within three months to merit a formal response.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
In explaining its position, the petition references enduring Taiwanese support for Ukraine since Russia launched a large-scale invasion in February, with Taipei issuing an official condemnation of Moscow’s actions, sanctions and material assistance to Ukrainians.
In contrast, the People’s Republic of China has refused to condemn Moscow’s actions and continues to deepen ties, while spreading Russian propaganda blaming the US and NATO for the war, it says.
Ukraine’s allies enjoy “stable interstate relations” with Taiwan through representative offices without officially recognizing its independence, it says.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has even less cooperation with Taipei than Russia, which has its own office in Taiwan, the petition says, calling the situation “absurd.”
“At a time when autocratic states such as Russia and China have challenged the sovereignty of democratic states such as Ukraine and Taiwan, it is important to deepen and strengthen ties between democracies,” it says.
“Ukraine should follow the path of our allies and establish interstate relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)” by opening a commercial and cultural representative office in Taiwan and negotiating with Taipei to open an office in Ukraine, it adds.
Alex Khomenko, a Ukrainian living in Taiwan, on Sunday told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) that this petition and the formation on Wednesday of a Ukraine-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group shows a desire among Ukrainians to recognize Taiwan for its support and the potential for bilateral cooperation.
Although it seems unlikely the petition would pass the signature threshold, Ukrainians are starting to recognize Taiwan’s efforts, he said.
More Ukrainians must be persuaded not to fear provoking China, he said, adding that he believes closer ties would eventually be possible.
Dmytro Burtsev, a visiting researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of European and American Studies, said that Ukrainians have been grateful for Taiwanese aid.
However, for a nation at war, establishing new diplomatic ties is a sensitive and complicated issue, he said.
Taiwan Stands With Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in Taiwan are planning a festival on Saturday to mark Ukrainian Independence Day, which is tomorrow.
The festival, to be held at Taipei Guting Lane Tailor (小巷裁縫酒吧) in Zhongzheng District (中正), is to feature an open-air “Ukrainian Village” with food, drinks, a flea market, workshops and performances.
All donations and proceeds are to benefit Ukraine.
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