MOFA Minister Wu gives exclusive interview to France 24

2022/01/18

The government is committed to maintaining a rock-solid defense of Taiwan and its democratic way of life in the face of China’s ongoing campaign of coercion, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
 
Military exercises conducted around Taiwan by China have increased tremendously in frequency, Wu said. The more than 900 sorties by warplanes so far are extremely threating to the people, he added.
 
The government is absolutely determined to defend Taiwan through investing in the country’s self-defense capabilities, Wu said, adding that this ensures the challenges of China’s hybrid warfare are fully met.
 
Wu made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Marc Perelman for a program aired Jan. 14 by state-owned broadcaster France 24.
 
According to Wu, Taiwan is not alone in dealing with China’s military threats. The U.S. is fulfilling its obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act and has been working hard in this regard, he said.
 
This is evidenced, Wu said, by the increasing level of bilateral cooperation in areas spanning information exchange, personnel training, reserve forces modernization and weaponry procurement.
 
Wu said the international community is increasingly aware that China’s promises cannot be trusted. This is evidenced by events in Hong Kong, as well as repeated statements by global leaders and groupings calling for the preservation of peace, stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, he added.
 
Regarding the opening of The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, Wu described the development as underscoring the government’s resolve to deepen ties with the EU member state. The name of the facility is not a provocative move directed at Beijing and reflects nothing but reality, he said.
 
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “Minister Wu tackles the tough issues in his @France24 interview with @mperelman. Learn more about #Taiwan’s determination to maintain a rock-solid defense in the face of #China’s mounting military threat, cooperation with the #US in related areas & ties with #Lithuania.”


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)