Taiwan would defend its sovereignty and democratic way of life while seeking to broaden alliances with like-minded partners to deter Chinese aggression, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told the France-based quarterly Politique Internationale.
China’s oppressive rule over the former liberal beacon of Hong Kong and the Russian invasion of Ukraine underscored the danger of an attack on Taiwan, Wu was cited as saying in the magazine’s autumn issue.
Taiwanese have the will to defend national sovereignty and their freedoms, while the government in Taipei is preparing the nation’s defenses by improving its military’s capabilities, including asymmetric warfare, he said, adding that cooperation with partners is crucial.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
The nation works closely with Japan in protecting maritime safety, combating natural disasters and countering disinformation, while former British prime minister called on NATO to ensure that Taiwan can defend itself, he said.
Australia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, as well as NATO and G7 nations were some of the country’s friends that have recently called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
The government has confidence that the international community’s expressions of concern and cooperation can deter Beijing from making a bid to change the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait and ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, Wu said.
Taiwan is thankful to its diplomatic allies for continuing to back the nation’s effort to take part in the WHO, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization and other international organizations, he said.
While Taiwan cooperates with the US in intelligence, arms procurement, personnel training and other national security matters, the nation is ultimately responsible for defending itself and has prepared for war accordingly, he said.
China’s appetite for expansion does not end with Taiwan, he said, adding that a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands and Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative show it has designs to reach into the Atlantic and Indian oceans, he said.
Chinese scheming to gain control of Taiwan must be seen as a first step in its bid for hegemony and an objective of strategic value for the alliance of authoritarian regimes, Wu added.
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