A Formosa Club joint statement voicing support for Taiwan is warmly welcomed by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aug. 9.
Signed by the club’s co-chairs and members from 28 parliaments across Europe and Canada, the statement expresses grave concerns regarding China’s live-fire exercises and economic coercion following the visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Beijing’s reckless actions have unnecessarily escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait and undermined Indo-Pacific peace and stability, it added.
The statement additionally stresses that democratically elected lawmakers have the right and duty to travel internationally, including to Taiwan. Such visits should not be used as an excuse for violating the country’s waters and airspace, it said.
China should refrain from unilaterally changing the cross-strait status quo, the statement said, adding that the signatories will continue to stand with Taiwan through regular visits, joint dialogues and cooperative efforts to safeguard democracy and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
According to the MOFA, the ministry has reiterated its condemnation over China’s irrational military provocations in the waters around Taiwan over the past several days while calling on the international community to join forces to halt Beijing’s authoritarian expansion. Democracies should work together in solidarity, the MOFA said, adding that appeasement and silence will only convey the wrong message to China and encourage Beijing to take further rash military actions.
No country has the right to interfere with the exchanges and mutual visits between any other sovereign countries and Taiwan, the MOFA said. Taiwan welcomes more visits of delegations from Europe and around the world to show their support for the country.
Taiwan shares the universal values of freedom and respect for human rights with like-minded partners such as the EU, the MOFA said. The government will continue working with fellow forces for good to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order, enhance cross-strait and Indo-Pacific peace and stability, and contribute more to global well-being and prosperity, the ministry added.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “We thank Formosa Club members from 28 parliaments across #Europe & #Canada for voicing “grave concern” over #China’s live-fire drills & economic coercion. @SpeakerPelosi is free to visit any country she likes & #Taiwan is free to welcome any lawmaker it likes. #StandWithTaiwan!” (YCH-E)
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