The government is committed to defending Taiwan’s freedom and democracy while expanding cooperation with like-minded partners worldwide, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said April 28.
It is an irrefutable fact that democratic Taiwan has never been ruled by authoritarian China, Wu said. The government’s evenhanded and responsible approach to safeguarding the country’s democratic way of life has garnered global praise and recognition, he added.
Wu made the remarks during an exclusive virtual interview with Tom Cheshire of U.K.-based Sky News.
According to Wu, China is ramping up pressure on Taiwan through misinformation campaigns, hybrid warfare and heightened grey zone activities. This comes at a time when the country is standing firm on the front line in the face of Beijing’s authoritarian expansion, he said.
The government’s response includes enhancing Taiwan’s defensive capabilities and deepening exchanges with partners such as the EU, Japan, U.K. and U.S., he said, adding that if Taiwan is taken by China, the consequences will be global.
Wu also welcomed the decision to dispatch a U.K. Royal Navy aircraft carrier strike group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Indo-Pacific. Based on the shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, the government will continue strengthening Taiwan-U.K. relations across the board going forward, he said.
In a tweet on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Minister Wu laid it bare in his @SkyNews interview. He spotlighted #China’s multipronged strategy targeting #Taiwan & made sure no one was under any illusions. ‘This is our country ... & this is our way of life. We’ll defend ourselves to the very end.’” (SFC-E)
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