January 25, 2024
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the People’s Republic of China on their all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era on January 24. In the statement, Uzbekistan says it firmly supports the “one China principle” and erroneously reiterates that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate authority representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory. It further states that Uzbekistan opposes any form of Taiwan independence and will not engage in any official exchanges with Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) vigorously protests and strongly condemns the authoritarian CCP government for continuing to coerce and induce other countries into publishing false statements on the international stage that disparage Taiwan’s sovereignty, as well as Uzbekistan for ignoring reality and blindly following China.
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign nation, that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, and that the People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan. These are long-standing and objective facts. No distortion of Taiwan’s sovereign status by China can change the internationally recognized status quo.
Taiwan is a key bulwark in safeguarding the world’s systems of freedom and democracy and will not retreat in the face of China’s pressure. Rather, it will continue to cooperate with all other like-minded countries that staunchly protect the values of freedom and democracy, working together to maintain global and regional peace and stability.