Thu, Jan 04, 2024 page2

• Chinese influence harder to perceive: Joseph Wu

  TALK OF WAR: The foreign minister told France’s ‘Le Monde’ that while China is trying to sow doubt among Taiwanese, ‘it is our responsibility to defend Taiwan’

  • By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA
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  Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) blasted Beijing for deliberately upsetting the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait by using cognitive warfare that is increasingly difficult to recognize, in an exclusive interview with French newspaper Le Monde.

  In the interview with Hong Kong correspondent Florence de Changy published on Tuesday, Wu reiterated Taiwan’s stance of being “moderate and responsible” regarding cross-strait affairs, a standing policy during President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration.

  Wu said Beijing is attempting to influence the presidential and legislative elections next week by trying to convey them as a choice between war and an economic slowdown if the DPP wins, and peace and prosperity if the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) wins.

  

  Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu is pictured in an undated photograph.

  Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  Beijing’s methods of influencing Taiwanese are becoming increasingly difficult to perceive, he said.

  While China’s military threat toward Taiwan is growing and its attempts to spread disinformation, infiltrate the country and tactics of weaponizing the economy all contribute to a “grim” situation in the Taiwan Strait, analyses from intelligence agencies in Taiwan, the US and other countries show that, “war [with China] is not imminent, but neither is it inevitable,” Wu said.

  However, Wu said that the “status quo” is being changed, he said.

  “The ‘status quo’ is based on a tacit agreement between Taiwan and China, but China no longer wishes to abide by such agreements — China’s fighter jets are constantly crossing the median line, while its naval ships are inching ever closer to Taiwan in more frequent and larger military exercises ... this is unprecedented,” he said.

  Wu also cited Beijings attempts to distort UN Resolution 2758 to convince others that Taiwan is legally a part of China as part of its efforts to change the “status quo.”

  UN Resolution 2758 was passed by the UN General Assembly in 1971. It states that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China to the UN. However, it does not touch on the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty.

  Wu also said that Taiwan “welcomed” the French government’s military programming law (LPM) for 2024-2030, which states that France would defend freedom of navigation in the region — including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait — according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

  Speaking about Taiwan-US relations, he said that the “status quo” would not have existed without the US’ strong support over the years.

  China is attempting to sow doubt in the minds of the Taiwanese, using the Russia-Ukraine war to insinuate that the US’ reluctance to be directly involved is a reflection of the US’ attitude toward Taiwan, Wu said.

  However, it is clear that “China threatens Taiwan, and the US supports Taiwan,” he said.

  Wu ended the interview by saying: “It is our responsibility to defend Taiwan. No nation is obligated to help us.”
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