The people of Taiwan elected their next president and vice president in a fair, just, and open process on January 13, again demonstrating Taiwan’s mature democracy and gaining strong affirmation from the international community. China, in addition to attempting to interfere in Taiwan’s elections and influence the Taiwanese people’s exercise of their freedom through various avenues, has instigated countries such as Serbia, to issue false statements aimed at downgrading Taiwan’s sovereign status. This completely disregards Taiwan’s long-term goodwill and contributions to the international community and its devotion to maintaining regional peace and stability. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China strongly condemns China’s malevolent actions and such countries’ inappropriate deference to China.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country. Neither the R.O.C. (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other. These facts and the status quo have long been recognized by the international community. Taiwan’s January 13 presidential elections marked yet another demonstration of its mature and healthy democracy and received widespread international acclaim. International Elites from more than 80 countries publicly expressed their congratulations, thus established a mainstream consensus of international supports on Taiwan’s Democracy. No distorted narrative on Taiwan’s sovereign status by any country can alter the status quo that neither side of the Taiwan Strait is subordinate to the other.
Political coercion and diplomatic suppression by the Chinese authoritarian government will not change Taiwan’s unwavering commitment to democracy. Taiwan will continue to staunchly uphold the values of democracy and freedom and work proactively with diplomatic allies and like-minded nations to jointly preserve regional and global democracy, peace, and stability.
