Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chih-chung Wu said Taiwan’s democracy poses a fundamental challenge to China’s authoritarian rule and that the country is committed to strengthening its national defense.
Wu made the remarks during an interview with Pierre Coudurier from Brittany-based Le Télégramme for an article published May 21 in the French daily newspaper.
According to Wu, the continued escalation of cross-strait tensions is due in part to Taiwan’s successful democratic system because it calls into question China’s assertion that only authoritarianism can benefit its people. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is actively pushing for unification with Taiwan to expand Beijing’s dominant position in the Pacific, the deputy minister said, warning that the likelihood of China using force against Taiwan might hit a critical point in 2027 as the year is the centennial anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.
Though the possibility of cross-strait conflict is low in the short term, Taiwan never underestimates the threat posed by China, Wu said. The country continues to enhance its self-defense capabilities, as evidenced by the 80 percent increase in its national defense budget over the last few years and the total number of military personnel reaching 180,000, he added.
Wu went on to stress that the U.S. is Taiwan’s unwavering strategic partner. Taiwan procures military equipment mostly from the U.S. and will continue to deepen cooperation with the Northern American country.
Taiwan’s real current crisis is China’s infiltration into the country, the deputy minister said, adding that the public is highly aware of Beijing’s attempts to weaken the country’s governance, undermine its defense mechanisms and isolate Taiwan diplomatically. The government is determined to strengthen its national security legislation and bolster whole-of-society defense resilience to counter measures such as disinformation and espionage and safeguard Taiwan’s social stability and democratic way of life, he added. (YCH-E)
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