Taiwan is fully committed to defending itself by continuing advanced weaponry procurement and enhancing asymmetrical combat capabilities, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
At the same time, the government is leveraging technical capabilities to develop indigenous warships and implementing reform to upgrade the combat readiness of the country’s reserve forces, he added.
The minister made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Robert Fife and Steven Chase published March 24 by Canada’s national daily The Globe and Mail.
According to Wu, Taiwan has been closely observing the situation in Ukraine. Russia has suffered a series of military failures in a land battle that is geographically less challenging than any possible amphibious assault on Taiwan by China, he added.
The fighting spirit of the Ukrainians and severe Western economic sanctions against Moscow should force Beijing to rethink any plans to use military force against Taiwan, the minister said.
Wu said Taiwan is strategically valuable due to its frontline role against authoritarian expansion and global leadership in producing semiconductor computer chips, which are vital to modern economies.
In terms of Taiwan-Canada relations, the minister called on Ottawa to fast-track negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement to expand bilateral trade ties.
Canada can help Taiwan by dispatching warships through Taiwan Strait and sharing expertise on combating cyber and disinformation operations, Wu said. He urged Ottawa to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Minister Wu believes the free world’s response to #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine is giving pause to those in #China contemplating military action against #Taiwan. Get his take on the war & the ways #Canada can #StandWithTaiwan via @globeandmail’s @RobertFife & @StevenChase.” (SFC-E)
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