Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said China’s approach to acquiring allies is a far cry from Taiwan’s more comprehensive style that supports allies’ projects to improve the lives of their people.
Wu made the remarks in an interview Jan. 25 in Taipei City with Lily Kuo and Vic Chiang of The Washington Post for an article on China’s strategy in the Pacific published Feb. 1.
During the interview, the minister recounted events preceding the termination of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Nauru. According to Wu, Nauru’s foreign minister said at the end of 2023 that his country was facing financial pressure due to a decrease in funding for an Australian refugee processing center.
The minister said that on learning of the situation, Taiwan’s government promised to discuss with Australia and the U.S ways to help Nauru make up the deficit. Wu said he was later told that China offered Nauru unlimited aid, which he assessed as an attempt to deal a diplomatic blow to Taiwan following its successful general elections in January.
Wu emphasized that Taiwan’s cooperation with allies is project-based and aimed at benefiting local people, a sharp contrast with China’s efforts to woo elites. The minister said that many officials from former allied countries informed him that their governments regretted turning to China after it broke its promises to them. (POC-E)
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from Taiwan Today – Top News