1. January 15, 2022
Under pressure from China, the Washington-based Naval Attachés Association is no longer inviting Taiwan naval officers based in the United States to take part in its activities. This demonstrates China’s authoritarian mindset in its widespread use of coercive tactics to interfere in the operations of private organizations in other countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly protests and condemns China’s heavy-handed and unreasonable actions. It also thanks the US Department of State and the US Navy for their moral support and assistance for Taiwan in this case. Taiwan personnel in the United States will continue to promote interactions and exchanges with all sectors of US society.
2. March 24, 2022
China has put pressure on local government officials in Bologna, Italy, to demand that an award-winning work by a Taiwanese illustrator at the 2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair be relabeled as originating from “Taiwan-China.” When the organizers decided instead to covered up the country name of Taiwan, Taiwan’s Representative Office in Italy immediately lodged a protest with the Italian government and the event organizers, demanding that a correction be made. It also sought assistance from Italian parliamentarians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns and deeply regrets China’s inappropriate political interference in an international cultural activity. It has instructed the Representative Office to continue to protect national dignity and ensure fair treatment of Taiwanese participants at the fair.
3. May 19, 2022
The 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) was held in Geneva from May 22 to 28. The World Health Organization (WHO) again refused to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer, failing to uphold the principles of neutrality and professionalism, disregarding the need for Taiwan’s inclusion in WHO and the WHA, and ignoring calls from all sectors to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) deeply regrets WHO’s decision. MOFA also strongly condemns the Chinese government for continuing to go to extreme lengths to block Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA, inappropriately interpret United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1, make false claims to mislead the international community, and suppress the Taiwanese people’s right to health. This fully exposes the Chinese communist regime’s authoritarian nature of putting politics above people’s well-being.
Taiwan is a responsible international partner and an important stakeholder. The government of Taiwan will continue to closely cooperate with diplomatic allies and like-minded countries in making every effort to participate in WHO and the WHA in order to ensure the Taiwanese people’s health, safety, and welfare.
4. June 27-July 1, 2022
The second United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, from June 27 to July 1. During the event, China continuously abused its position as a member of the UN Credentials Committee to unreasonably interfere in the composition of the national delegations of Tuvalu and Palau, which are diplomatic allies of Taiwan. China attempted to entirely block the participation of Taiwanese nationals appointed to serve as advisors on the delegations. Its contemptible behavior was an infringement on the sovereignty of UN members and showed distain for multilateral system rules. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) resolutely condemns China’s repeated inappropriate citation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 to pressure the UN and its specialized agencies and to universally bar Taiwanese nationals from entering UN premises to participate in meetings and other activities. The government of Taiwan will further strengthen cooperation with its diplomatic allies and like-minded partners, and continue to make active contributions to global issues.
5. September 13, 2022
A Taiwanese national, Ms. Kao Man-jung, participated in the Miss Asia Global International Pageant in Penang, Malaysia. On September 13, she and the other contestants were invited to make an appearance at the opening of the 2022 World Congress on Innovation & Technology (WCIT). During the event, however, the organizer blocked Ms. Kao from taking the stage due to pressure from China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns China’s malicious actions and its heavy-handed suppression of Taiwanese nationals and civil society events in the international arena. MOFA also expresses great displeasure and regret about the erroneous decision made by the WCIT organizer. MOFA has instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia to lodge a solemn protest with the organizer.
6. September 24, 2022
During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 24, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented an erroneous narrative that distorted historical facts and ran contrary to the cross-strait status quo. He made false claims regarding Taiwan's sovereignty and willfully misrepresented UNGA Resolution 2758, connecting it to the so-called “one China principle” over which there is no international consensus. This was an attempt to create the illusion that Taiwan is subordinate to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and excuse China's recent provocative behavior toward Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns in the strongest possible terms Wang Yi's lies at the UNGA as he sought to rationalize China's position on Taiwan; deliberately muddy the current reality and internationally recognized, long-standing, and objective fact that neither side of the Taiwan Strait is subordinate to the other; and mislead his international audience. MOFA solemnly reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 only addresses the issue of China's representation in the United Nations. At no point does the text of the resolution mention Taiwan, nor does it ascribe to the PRC any right to represent Taiwan in the United Nations system or say that Taiwan is a part of the PRC. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a free and democratic sovereign nation. Only Taiwan's democratically elected government has the right to represent Taiwan's 23.5 million people in the UN system and elsewhere on the international stage. The Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan and has no right to speak on Taiwan's behalf.
7. October 18, 2022
The 90th General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) was held in New Delhi, India, from October 18 to 21, 2022. Despite its proactive efforts, the Republic of China (Taiwan) was still unable to attend the event. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses profound regret and dissatisfaction that INTERPOL allowed political considerations to take precedence over professional policing, disregarding Taiwan’s practical need to participate in INTERPOL and ignoring Taiwan’s pragmatic appeal for meaningful participation.
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent nation. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is decidedly not part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC has no right to represent Taiwan in the international arena. Taiwan has always operated a complete and effective police system independently of the PRC. However, due to the PRC’s unwarranted interference, Taiwan is unable to exchange intelligence with INTERPOL in a direct and timely manner, which affects Taiwan’s cooperation with other nations’ police forces. MOFA will continue to convey the nation’s determination to be included in INTERPOL to the international community. Taiwan will also seek broader and stauncher international support to jointly combat transnational crime and create a safer world.
8. November 11, 2022
The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18. Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, falsely claimed at the COP on November 8 that China had made appropriate arrangements for Taiwan to participate in the climate change process under the “one China principle.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly condemns the Chinese envoy for blatantly lying at an international conference and maliciously downgrading the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan). In a tweet posted on November 10, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu severely criticized China for its flagrant mendacity and spiteful blocking of Taiwan’s participation in the UNFCCC.
MOFA emphasizes that the success of Taiwan’s environmental policies are internationally recognized and have nothing to do with China. Taiwan’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 far exceeds China’s climate change commitments. Communist China has politicized the UNFCCC mechanism, placed narrow-minded political considerations above global efforts to combat climate change, and maliciously blocked Taiwan’s participation for years. It is deplorable that China, while pursuing its authoritarian expansionist aims, is willing to sacrifice the urgent issue of climate change and the sovereign rights of another country. MOFA will continue to proactively seek Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and other related mechanisms.