Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chih-chung Wu said Taiwan would continue to strengthen self-defense capabilities and work with like-minded countries to safeguard democracy in the Indo-Pacific.
Wu made the remarks during an interview with Andrey Tsyganov from Radio Free Europe’s “Current Time” program at the end of last year in Taipei City. Excerpts were incorporated into the Dec. 22, 2024, episode, which is available on YouTube in Russian with English subtitles, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has awakened a stronger awareness of potential crisis among Taiwan’s people, the deputy minister said. He noted that support from the international community for the cross-strait status quo is vital, adding that European countries including England, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have recently dispatched warships to demonstrate the commitment of global democracies to the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation in the region.
Wu stated that Taiwan produces 90 percent of the world’s advanced chips, adding that it provides 100 percent of chips used by the artificial intelligence industry. He emphasized that as a reliable partner in the democratic supply chain, the country is dedicated to further optimizing links.
The news documentary introduces Taiwan’s politics and economy, but also provides viewers with a variety of perspectives on cross-strait conditions, ranging from political experts to senior high school students in Taipei and Ukrainian students studying in Taiwan.
RFE, founded by the U.S. government, has long been influential in Russophone areas, the MOFA added. (POC-E)
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