Taiwan is a key member in the Indo-Pacific region and has long shared the benefits of regional stability with Australia, the UK and the US, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday after the three states created an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS.”
“Through AUKUS, our governments will strengthen the ability of each to support our security and defense interests,” including information and technology sharing, leaders of the member states said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The endeavor we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” they said.
The ministry yesterday reiterated its shared values with like-minded partners.
Taiwan is in a pivotal position in the first island chain, and has long shared the benefits of regional peace and stability with Australia, the UK, the US and other like-minded states, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement.
Based on the foundations of the US’ Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances,” the nation would continue to deepen its partnership with the US to defend a rules-based international order, as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region, Ou said.
The emergence of AUKUS shows that China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy is not accepted by the international community, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said separately.
Since China’s opening up in the 1970s, foreign businesses settling in China have had to endure unfair treatment by the Chinese government because of its protectionism, DPP caucus secretary-general Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) said.
Countries have to bear China’s dumping practices even as it boosts its military expansionism through economic growth, Tsai said.
China has been poaching resources with its “wolf warrior” diplomacy and military expansionism, which has alarmed many countries, DPP caucus director-general Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said.
Taiwan is part of a global alliance of democratic countries and plays a vital role in promoting cooperation in trade and security, and protecting human rights, Liu said.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
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