Foreign Minister Wu gives exclusive interview to UK’s The Sunday Times

2022/04/07

Taiwan is fully committed to defending itself by enhancing asymmetrical combat capabilities while conducting security dialogues with like-minded partners to safeguard global democracy, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
 
Chinese threats against Taiwan are intensifying, as evidenced by around 1,000 sorties by warplanes last year and ongoing grey zone activities, cognitive warfare and misinformation campaigns, Wu said.
 
Taiwan is now sharing its expertise on disinformation and cyberattacks with countries across Europe, Wu said. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has strengthened bonds between the country and democracies worldwide, generating mutual strategic benefits, he added.
 
The minister made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Philip Sherwell published April 3 by U.K.-based The Sunday Times.
 
According to Wu, Taiwan stands with Ukraine as a fellow front-line state combating authoritarian expansion. The country’s survival is critical not only to defending its own sovereignty and democratic way of life but for the continued existence of global democracy, he said.
 
The people of Taiwan are deeply touched by the fighting spirit of Ukrainians, he said, adding that nearly US$31 million has been raised and 600 tons of supplies have been collected to help those fleeing the conflict.
 
In terms of Taiwan-U.K. relations, Wu welcomed the British government’s growing focus on the Indo-Pacific, citing its recent integrated review of policies, freedom of navigation operations and trilateral security pact inked with Australia and the U.S.
 
Wu also took the opportunity to appreciate the U.K.’s support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization. The government will continue deepening cooperation with the U.K. in areas spanning trade and investment, he said.
 
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “Minister Wu’s @TheSundayTimes interview is excellent. He shares insights on #Taiwan’s global responsibility to #DefendDemocracy in its David versus Goliath situation with #China, as well as lessons learned from #Ukraine’s successful resistance.”


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