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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwan-China Relations: No Unification, Only Occupation or Invasion, Says Vice Foreign Minister

From Liberty Times · (18m ago) Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung stated that Taiwan and China have no issue of unification, only one of occupation or invasion.
  • He highlighted Taiwan's current prosperity and its unique status as a sovereign nation, emphasizing that its well-being improves the further it distances itself from China.
  • Wu noted the successful shift in international perception from Taiwan being a "troublemaker" to China, attributing this to narrative changes and China's actions hindering international freedom and Taiwan's participation.

In a powerful address at the 14th Overseas Taiwanese National Affairs Conference, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung unequivocally declared that the question for Taiwan is not one of unification with China, but rather of potential occupation and invasion. This framing directly confronts Beijing's persistent narrative and asserts Taiwan's sovereign right to self-determination, emphasizing that the only issue is whether China will attempt to seize the island.

Taiwan has never been as prosperous and flourishing as it is now.

— Wu Chih-chungVice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung describing Taiwan's current state.

Wu painted a picture of Taiwan's remarkable success, describing it as a "Taiwan legend" that has never been more prosperous economically, politically, and in terms of freedom and international standing. He underscored Taiwan's unique identity, asserting its status as 'sui generis' – a self-contained entity that needs no external validation. The Vice Minister pointed to the declining investment in China as a key indicator of Taiwan's economic strength, noting that as Taiwan moves away from China, its economy thrives, evidenced by a record-high growth rate last year.

Taiwan and China have no issue of unification, or re-unification, only an issue of occupation and invasion.

— Wu Chih-chungVice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung reframing the relationship between Taiwan and China.

Crucially, Wu highlighted a significant diplomatic victory: the successful rebranding of Taiwan's international image. Where Taiwan was once labeled a "troublemaker," that mantle has now been effectively transferred to China. This shift is attributed to a deliberate change in narrative and China's own actions, such as obstructing freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and hindering Taiwan's international participation. This perspective is vital for understanding how Taiwan navigates its complex geopolitical landscape, emphasizing its resilience, its distinct identity, and its proactive efforts to shape global perceptions in its favor, a stark contrast to how Western media often frames the issue solely through the lens of great power competition.

The more we use unification, re-unification, the more we place Taiwan within China's internal affairs problem.

— Wu Chih-chungVice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung explaining the implications of the term 'unification'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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