March 18, 2024
Following the conclusion of the Russian election on March 17, President Vladimir Putin falsely claimed that Taiwan is “part of the People’s Republic of China” in response to a question from a Chinese journalist. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly refutes this statement.
MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other and that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan. As a modern democracy, Taiwan actively defends its democratic system and respects human rights and the rule of law. No distortion of Taiwan’s sovereign status can alter the internationally recognized cross-strait status quo.
Mr. Putin uses the guise of democracy to rule Russia as a dictator. The recent election, held in the absence of credible opposition and viable challengers, with people in occupied areas of Ukrainian territory forced to vote, further exposes the heavy-handed nature of autocracy. Moreover, Mr. Putin was reelected by a farcical margin, gaining nearly 90 percent of the vote. MOFA expresses its regret that Mr. Putin has once again set back the development of Russian democracy.
The illegal invasion of Ukraine launched by Mr. Putin has created a humanitarian disaster and elicited sanctions and universal condemnation from the international community. Having long lost all credibility and trust internationally, Mr. Putin’s indiscriminate remarks about Taiwan’s sovereignty carry no substance. In recent years, the confluence of authoritarian powers has continued to undermine the rules-based international order, becoming a source of instability and unrest around the world.
Taiwan is on the front line in defense of the democratic camp. The Taiwanese people and government will stand together in firmly safeguarding national sovereignty. Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with other democratic nations to check authoritarian expansion, uphold cross-strait peace and security, and maintain global stability and prosperity.