June 20, 2024
On June 19, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while on a visit to Malaysia. Following their talks, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future. The statement sought to undermine the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan) by claiming that “Malaysia recognizes that Taiwan is an inalienable territory of the People’s Republic of China, in order for China to achieve national reunification and thus will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly condemns and refutes these false claims, which disregard the reality of the current international situation.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country. Neither it nor the PRC is subordinate to the other. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has always actively defended its democracy and respected human rights and the rule of law. It will not yield to coercion from China. No claim by China about Taiwan being part of its territory can change the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign country.
MOFA calls on the Malaysian government not to follow China in undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty. Based on the existing foundations of robust Taiwan-Malaysia cooperation, Malaysia should instead adopt a pragmatic and open attitude to expanding mutually beneficial economic and trade exchanges with Taiwan, which would contribute to regional peace and stability.