Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Taiwan is committed to enhancing national self-defense capabilities to safeguard its sovereignty and democratic way of life in the face of growing threats from China.
Wu made the remarks during an interview with Nisid Hajari for “How Taiwan’s Top Diplomat Sees the World,” an article published March 21 on New York-based Bloomberg News’ website.
According to Wu, China’s displacement of Taiwan in 2019 to establish ties with Kiribati and the Solomon Islands is part of its strategy for global authoritarian expansion. The government warned like-minded partners at the time, but it was not until 2021, when China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, that other democracies realized China’s ambitions, he added.
The minister said in addition to squeezing Taiwan’s participation in international bodies, China constantly attempts to undermine the country’s democracy by cyberattacks, disinformation and cognitive warfare. China may also wish to use Taiwan to divert domestic attention from its economic slowdown, he added.
Wu thanked allies for voicing support for Taiwan’s international engagement in bodies such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated that international support is crucial for nations on the frontline of authoritarian expansion and welcomed global support for Taiwan, Wu added.
The government and the minister are advocates for maintaining the cross-strait status quo, Wu said, stressing that the Taiwan Strait is international waters and China’s frequent encroachment upon the median line violates peace and stability. Wu added that a conflict with China is neither imminent nor inevitable and Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community.
Wu said Taiwan is one of the world’s major semiconductor production centers and a blockade will negatively impact the global economy. China will pay a great price in reputational cost and face economic sanctions if it uses military force against Taiwan, he added. (YCH-E)
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