MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu calls on Canada to support Taiwan during his virtual interview with Robert Fife and Steven Chase of Canada daily The Global and Mail Dec. 21 in Taipei City. (MOFA)

 

Taiwan is a front-line state defending freedom and democracy, and like-minded countries around the world should join in supporting the country and checking creeping authoritarianism, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Dec. 21.


As an outpost of democracy, Taiwan remains self-ruled with its own military and foreign policy, Wu said. All democracies should stand up for the country as it faces increasing threats from China in the form of disinformation campaigns, stepped-up airspace incursions by military aircraft and greater efforts to hinder participation in international organizations like the World Health Organization, he added.


Wu made the remarks during a virtual interview with Robert Fife and Steven Chase of Canada daily The Globe and Mail in Taipei City.


According to Wu, Canada should join Australia, European nations, Japan, the U.S. and other democracies in taking action against Beijing and staving off any possible invasion of Taiwan. Case in point is the U.S., which is taking the lead in closing Confucius Institutes and expelling representatives of China’s state-controlled media, he added.


The best way to safeguard Taiwan is through bolstering trade ties, Wu said, calling on Canada to sign a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with the country, as well as invite it to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Such a pact will boost Taiwan-Canada trade by providing greater legal protections for investors from both sides, Wu added.


Signed in 2018, the CPTPP is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. (YCH-E)