Tue, Oct 22, 2024 page3

• Diplomacy faces harsh obstacles: MOFA

  INTEGRATED APPROACH: Taiwan’s diplomatic strategy involves deepening ties with allies and like-minded nations, while pursuing economic links, minister Lin Chia-lung said

  • By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
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  Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts are facing harsh challenges, as China steps up its coercion campaign and attempts to expand authoritarianism, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday, adding that Taiwan would continue to pursue “integrated diplomacy” and strive to win international support.

  “Although facing a difficult international situation, with the state of geopolitics and the global supply chain constantly changing, Taiwan can use this moment as a diplomatic opportunity,” Lin said while presenting a report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

  The biggest threat to Taiwan’s diplomacy is Chinese coercion, which includes increased diplomatic suppression, military intimidation and economic pressure, as it attempts to create a “new normal,” he said.

  

  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung speaks at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  China also employs hybrid warfare tactics, including legal warfare, disinformation campaigns and “gray zone” activities, to exert pressure on Taiwan, he said, adding that Beijing continues to distort UN Resolution 2758 and on Monday last week staged military drills around Taiwan, which harmed regional peace and stability.

  China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — the so-called “Axis of Upheaval” — are collaborating to challenge the rules-based international order, an aggressive authoritarianism expansion that is becoming a global challenge, Lin said.

  Despite the difficult situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) continues to pursue integrated diplomacy and has achieved preliminary achievements, with more than 2,300 foreign dignitaries visiting Taiwan to show their support, since President William Lai (賴清德) took office in May, he said.

  He has previously said that integrated diplomacy encompassed “values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy and economic diplomacy,” which tie in with Lai’s core foreign policy strategy based on “democracy, peace and prosperity.”

  The integrated diplomacy approach also involves deepening ties with diplomatic allies and other like-minded democratic nations through values-based diplomacy, safeguarding regional security through alliance diplomacy, and using Taiwan’s technological and industrial success to promote partnerships based on mutual prosperity as part of economic diplomacy, he said.

  Many overseas lawmakers and officials have also voiced their support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the World Health Assembly, while Taiwan’s relationship with the US has become “rock solid,” and Taiwan and Japan continue to enjoy a strong and steady friendship, Lin said.

  Taiwan and the EU have also strengthened their relationship, with European lawmakers more frequently and more strongly voicing their support for Taiwan, he said, adding that the two sides have established more economic and trade links, as well as platforms for business cooperation and talent exchanges.

  Meanwhile, Taiwan has also provided international humanitarian aid, donating goods and reconstruction support to Ukraine, helping with disaster relief after allies and like-minded countries have been affected by typhoons and hurricanes, and donating rice to countries affected by food shortages, the ministry’s written report says.

  The ministry will continue to enhance relationship with diplomatic allies, improve ties with like-minded countries, pursue meaningful participation in international organizations and donate humanitarian aid, as well as expand global economic links — such as striving to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Lin said.
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