Taiwan smoothly completed democratic elections on January 13 and received heartfelt congratulations from more than 100 countries worldwide. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has noted that since Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwan, China has been strongly pressuring the Philippines and making crude and insulting comments. As other countries are celebrating Taiwan’s democratic achievements, China’s petulant response stands in stark contrast, demonstrating that China’s communist system does not understand the true meaning of democracy and flagrantly tramples democratic values.

China resorts to every possible subterfuge in its attempts to undermine Taiwan’s democracy and distort Taiwan’s sovereign status. Before Taiwan’s elections, China sought to interfere by employing gray-zone tactics such as military intimidation, economic coercion, and cognitive warfare. Immediately following the elections, China enticed Nauru to change diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and instigated statements made by Solomon Islands, the Maldives, and Bangladesh disparaging Taiwan’s sovereign status. China has also pressured ASEAN countries to echo the fictitious narrative of the so-called “one China principle.” MOFA condemns China’s malicious actions in the strongest terms and calls on all like-minded democratic countries to continue cooperating to help stop China’s authoritarian expansionism in the region and the world.

MOFA once again expresses sincere gratitude to Philippine President Marcos and other international friends for their congratulations on Taiwan’s successful completion of elections. As a beacon of democracy and freedom and a bastion of human rights and the rule of law in Asia, Taiwan will continue to be a force for good in the world, staunchly safeguarding democratic achievements. MOFA also calls on China to promptly turn toward reason, abandon authoritarianism, and jointly safeguard global peace, prosperity, and security.