Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu fields a question during an exclusive interview with Gijs Moes of Netherlands-based news network Trouw Aug. 6. (MOFA)
 

Taiwan is committed to enhancing its defensive capabilities while expanding cooperation with like-minded partners in order to safeguard the country’s freedom and democracy from Chinese expansionism, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.

Despite Beijing’s ever-increasing campaign of coercion, as evidenced by repeated incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and attempts to cut off the country’s global participation, the government is resolute in its determination to maintain cross-strait peace and stability, Wu said.

Wu made the remarks during an exclusive virtual interview with Gijs Moes published by Netherlands-based news network Trouw Aug. 6.

Maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is now the common goal for countries across the Indo-Pacific and around the world, Wu said, citing the EU-Japan Summit, G-7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, G-7 Leaders’ Summit, Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, U.S.-Japan Summit and U.S.-EU Summit. To that end, Taiwan is willing to engage with China based on the principles of peace, reciprocity and dialogue, the minister added.

According to Wu, Taiwan and the Netherlands share the fundamental values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. The government will continue strengthening the two sides’ collaboration in areas spanning trade and technology, development of green energy, medical care and semiconductors, he said.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “A cornucopia of compelling points on #Taiwan & efforts to defang #China’s threat to the country's freedom & democracy are made by Minister Wu in his interview with @gijsmoes of @trouw. Learn about the #IslandOfResilience’s response & why it will win.” (YCH-E)