Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said that the people of Taiwan are committed to safeguarding the country’s freedom, territory and the democratic way of life.
Hsiao made the remarks during an interview with a U.S. podcaster Shawn Ryan recently at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. It was released June 19 as an episode on the eponymous Youtube channel.
Citing that Taiwan producing 95 percent of global high-end chips, the vice president said Taiwan’s reliable semiconductor industry plays a vital role in the global supply chains. The country’s semiconductor ecosystem is also key to promoting international stability and prosperity as stressed by Group of Seven and other countries, she said.
According to Hsiao, nearly 50 percent of global maritime commerce passes through the Taiwan Strait. The government promotes diversified trade policies to strengthen partnership with democracies facing uncertain geopolitical risks, she said, adding that the country is increasing investment in Southeast Asian countries and the U.S. while working to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers with the latter.
In addition, Taiwan continues to work with its allies in areas spanning economy, public health and empowerment for small- and medium-sized enterprises, and seeks more support from like-minded partners, who have continued to show their backing for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in global organizations and cross-strait peace and stability.
China is attempting to change rules-based international order including the freedom of navigation, and conducting military exercises with increasing frequency in air and waters surrounding Taiwan, Hsiao noted. The country must increase its investment in national defense and advance its whole-of-society resilience ranging from communications and energy resilience through cyber security to counter threats, the vice president said, and further emphasized the importance of collaborating with U.S. innovative defense technology companies and strengthening its domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Regarding the possibility of a Chinese assault on Taiwan, Hsiao said Taiwan prevents conflicts by strengthening asymmetric defense capabilities to deter Beijing and conveying a message that to maintain the status quo is in the best interests of all stakeholders, including China. The government is further building non-red supply chains and enhancing media literacy, with the help of its civic groups, to counter Beijing’s spread of disinformation, she added.
Hsiao concluded by saying that no country is too small to deserve freedom, and urged the international community to stand with Taiwan to ensure global peace. (YCH-E)
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