Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu called on members of the global community to support Taiwan’s freedom and democracy and work together to deter China’s authoritarian expansion.
Wu made the remarks during an online interview with Ravi Agrawal for a segment headlined “Inside Taiwan’s Foreign Policy” that aired Sept. 14 on U.S.-based magazine Foreign Policy’s website, with a related article set to be published online and in print at a later date.
According to the minister, it is disappointing that leaders of the G20 did not condemn Russia for invading Ukraine in the joint statement issued after their recent gathering in New Delhi. History has shown that such inaction may encourage China to take similar actions against Taiwan and other countries in the region, he said.
Wu said Taiwan and the U.S. enjoy close and friendly ties, while relations between Washington and Beijing are increasingly tense as a result of China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific, among other issues. The government and people welcome efforts by the Biden administration to deter China from attempting to use force against Taiwan, the bipartisan support from both the executive and legislative branches, and the ongoing arms sales and military training provided by the U.S., he added.
At a time when China is experiencing an economic recession, Taiwan needs to take extra precautions and continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities, Wu said, adding that it is equally important that the world let China know the high cost of invading Taiwan.
Wu said Taiwan’s semiconductor sector is the result of more than four decades of effort, and the country is willing to share the fruits of this labor with the world for the common good. If a war breaks out across the Taiwan Strait, the repercussions will be more devastating than those of the Russia-Ukraine war, he said, stressing the importance of regional peace and stability to global security and prosperity.
Taiwan has been obstructed from making contributions to international organizations because China continues to coerce entities into adhering to its false claim that Taiwan is part of China, the minister said. Taiwan’s participation in the U.N. will help ensure peace across the strait, while its exclusion violates the basic rights of the people, he said, calling on the global community to work out a feasible way for Taiwan to participate in the U.N. and other international bodies. (SFC-E)
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