December 31, 2022
Following a videoconference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on December 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime issued a specious press release claiming that “Russia firmly supports China’s position on the Taiwan question and stays firmly committed to the one-China principle.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) solemnly protests and strongly condemns China for again using a meeting with another country’s leader as a pretext for continuing to disseminate a false narrative in the international arena that undermines the sovereignty of the R.O.C. (Taiwan).
MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other and that the CCP regime has never ruled free and democratic Taiwan for even one single day. These are long-standing facts and represent the internationally recognized status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Regardless of how the CCP regime distorts Taiwan’s sovereign status, it cannot change the objective reality of the existence of the R.O.C. (Taiwan).
Russia has violated the United Nations Charter in illegally invading Ukraine with the use of military force. China continues to conduct information warfare and dispatch military aircraft and vessels to intimidate Taiwan, jeopardizing security and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. These are flagrant violations of international law that undermine the international order. Yet, at their recent meeting, the Russian and Chinese leaders claimed to jointly oppose hegemonism and bullying and uphold the authority of the United Nations and the status of international law, which the global community finds ironic and disdainful.
Taiwan is an important bastion for the protection of democratic and free institutions throughout the world. It is willing to engage with all like-minded countries that resolutely safeguard the values of democracy and freedom and calls on the international community to work together to counter authoritarian threats. With determination founded on the belief that those who help themselves will receive help, the Taiwanese people and government will fulfill Taiwan’s responsibility as a member of the international community to collectively preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across the globe.