February 22, 2022
Russia’s recognition of the “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, as sovereign and independent states; its signing of treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with these areas; and the entry of Russian military forces into eastern Ukraine are unilateral actions that increase regional tension. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns and expresses profound disappointment at these actions, and will continue to closely monitor related developments.
Russia’s unilateral actions violate Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which stipulates that “all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” Such actions undermine active international efforts to peacefully resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis through diplomatic negotiation, further escalating military confrontation on the Russia-Ukraine border and jeopardizing regional peace and stability.
The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) again calls on all parties to respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Taiwan opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion, and asks related countries to resolve differences and conflicts through peaceful and rational dialogue so as to jointly maintain the rules-based international order.
As military confrontation continues to escalate tensions along Ukraine’s border with Russia, MOFA once again advises R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals, for their own safety, to plan on leaving Ukraine at the earliest possible juncture, or at minimum to travel to Lviv, western Ukraine, which is farther from the conflict zone.