Foreign Minister Wu gives opening comments at human rights seminar

2022/06/07

Taiwan is committed to working with like-minded partners to deter authoritarian expansion, safeguard democracy and human rights while building a more stable and prosperous world, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
 
Wu made opening remarks at Canada’s University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Center’s seminar, Challenge of China: Protecting Human Rights and Democracy in Global Institutions of the 21st century. Wu said China has accelerated its authoritarian agenda both at home and abroad in recent years and that the situation today is no better than at the time of the Tiananmen massacre 33 years ago.
 
Beijing is using its increased influence to sabotage the democratic world by exerting coercion through diplomatic, military, trade and technological means, Wu said. He added that China exploits freedom of speech, weaponizes economic power and destroys rules-based international order.
 
According to Wu, China is collaborating with Russia as evidenced by their joint patrol in the Sea of Japan and their social media criticism of the U.S. and NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, Taiwan’s people support Ukraine and have given medical and humanitarian aid as well as financial assistance.
 
Wu said Taiwan is an indispensable economic partner in restructuring post-pandemic global supply chains. The country also has expertise to share in countering military pressure, nontraditional security threats, economic coercion, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and cognitive and hybrid warfare tactics, he added.
 
Taiwan and Canada share universal values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, Wu said, expressing appreciation for its reiteration of the importance of cross-strait peace and stability in the G7 summit communiques, conducting freedom of navigation operations in the region and supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in international bodies like the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
 
Wu made the remarks via video link during the event marking the 40th anniversary of HRREC June 2 in Canada. Wu also took the opportunity to urge Canada to support the country’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
 
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “Watch Minister Wu's address for @uOttawaHRREC’s #CREDP40HRREC event on the challenge of #China & protecting human rights & democracy in the run-up to June 4 #TiananmenSquareMassacre. We congratulate HRREC on its 40th anniversary & will keep partnering in building a better world.”


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