September 30, 2022
no. 271
From September 23 to 27, Russia held so-called referendums in four occupied regions of Ukraine—namely, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—on whether they would join Russia. On September 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independent status of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. On September 30, he is expected to sign agreements with the regions’ four puppet regimes on the regions’ incorporation into Russia, paving the way for their official annexation into Russian territory.
The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) solemnly condemns Russia’s ambition to annex Ukrainian territory through sham referendums and protests in the strongest possible terms Russia’s blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, military invasion of Ukraine and forcible occupation of its territory, and aggressive actions, which have eroded the rules-based international order. Taiwan reaffirms that it stands with like-minded countries in neither recognizing the outcomes of the sham referendums held by Russia nor accepting the actions taken by Russia to illegally annex Ukrainian territory. Taiwan supports the appropriate countermeasures being jointly adopted by the community of democratic nations centered around the United States and European countries.
As an important member of the international democratic community, Taiwan staunchly defends the universal and core values of democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights. It firmly opposes Russia’s use of force or coercion in unilaterally attempting to change the status quo and its invasion of another nation. Taiwan urges all parties to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and calls for peaceful and rational dialogue and negotiation under the framework of international law to quickly reconcile differences, resolve the stalemate, and prevent the further deepening of the humanitarian crisis caused by the war. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded countries around the world to enhance cooperation, strengthen democratic resilience, and counter authoritarian expansion and coercion, thereby ensuring that the international order is not overturned and that the world continues to enjoy peace and stability. (E)