Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said that Taiwan is committed to advancing its self-defense capabilities in the face of China’s ongoing attempts at coercion, including military activity and disinformation.
Hsiao made the remarks during an interview with Norsk Rikskringkasting AS (NRK), Norway’s national broadcaster, conducted recently at the Presidential Office in Taipei City and released June 18 in Norway and online.
Taiwan’s security is key to global security, and any behavior that breaches cross-strait stability will destabilize the Indo-Pacific, the vice president said, citing statistics that nearly half of global maritime commerce passes through or near the Taiwan Strait. The country is dedicated to fortifying its security, she noted, adding that the government is both developing emerging technologies and enhancing resilience across the whole of society.
The vice president also reiterated that the people of Taiwan enjoy freedom and democracy, and have the right to decide their own future. Any change to the status quo must be approved by the people through democratic means, she said, urging Beijing to open dialogue with the democratically elected leadership of Taiwan based on principles of dignity and parity.
Regarding the Taiwan-U.S. relationship, Hsiao said Taiwan continues to cooperate with the U.S. to strengthen its national defense and modernize military troops, founded on 1979’s Taiwan Relations Act. She further stressed that Taiwan is an important partner of the U.S. and contributes significantly to trusted global technology supply chains.
Hsiao concluded by expressing Taiwan’s desire for deeper economic and tech collaboration with Norway and other European countries, giving examples of similar developments with Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. that have included bilateral trade agreements. She further suggested that democracies around the world explore methods to expand cooperation at the societal level, as well as to enhance media literacy as a counter to challenges like disinformation. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
Hsiao made the remarks during an interview with Norsk Rikskringkasting AS (NRK), Norway’s national broadcaster, conducted recently at the Presidential Office in Taipei City and released June 18 in Norway and online.
Taiwan’s security is key to global security, and any behavior that breaches cross-strait stability will destabilize the Indo-Pacific, the vice president said, citing statistics that nearly half of global maritime commerce passes through or near the Taiwan Strait. The country is dedicated to fortifying its security, she noted, adding that the government is both developing emerging technologies and enhancing resilience across the whole of society.
The vice president also reiterated that the people of Taiwan enjoy freedom and democracy, and have the right to decide their own future. Any change to the status quo must be approved by the people through democratic means, she said, urging Beijing to open dialogue with the democratically elected leadership of Taiwan based on principles of dignity and parity.
Regarding the Taiwan-U.S. relationship, Hsiao said Taiwan continues to cooperate with the U.S. to strengthen its national defense and modernize military troops, founded on 1979’s Taiwan Relations Act. She further stressed that Taiwan is an important partner of the U.S. and contributes significantly to trusted global technology supply chains.
Hsiao concluded by expressing Taiwan’s desire for deeper economic and tech collaboration with Norway and other European countries, giving examples of similar developments with Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. that have included bilateral trade agreements. She further suggested that democracies around the world explore methods to expand cooperation at the societal level, as well as to enhance media literacy as a counter to challenges like disinformation. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News