Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu praised strong Taiwan-U.S. relations Aug. 12, saying the recent visit by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar is a clear show of support for Taiwan and its management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. is a close partner and understands the military and diplomatic threats Taiwan faces, Wu said. Azar’s visit underscores support in Washington for further deepening ties in areas spanning culture, economy, public health, security and trade, he added.
Wu made the remarks during an interview in Taipei City with Paula Hancocks, Korea correspondent for U.S.-headquartered media organization CNN.
According to Wu, tension in the Indo-Pacific is increasing as a result of China’s aggression. This includes not only the Taiwan Strait but also Hong Kong, militarization in the South China Sea and the dispute along the Sino-Indian border, he said.
Beijing is trying to impose the “one country, two systems” model on Taiwan to turn it into the next Hong Kong, Wu said. The government must therefore carefully manage cross-strait relations to avoid giving China any pretext for using force, he added.
In the face of such coercion, Taiwan remains committed to strengthening its capabilities and safeguarding freedom and democracy, Wu said, adding the government will continue to cooperate with the U.S. on defense going forward.
With regard to the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Wu said Taiwan enjoys bipartisan support from the Democratic and Republican parties. The two sides will enjoy a close relationship regardless of the outcome, he added. (SFC-E)
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