New Southbound Policy Portal

Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu is a special guest on Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s “The Bigger Picture” podcast hosted by ASPI Executive Director Peter Jennings. (MOFA)

Taiwan is deepening economic and security relations with fellow forces for good such as Australia while contributing more to the international community, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.

The country is faced with increasing pressure from China, Wu said. This includes around 1,000 sorties by warplanes last year and ongoing efforts to block Taiwan’s international participation, he added.

Another example, Wu said, is China’s economic coercion against EU member state Lithuania for its decision to enhance relations with Taiwan and welcome the opening of The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania.

Wu made the remarks during an interview with Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, for the think tank’s podcast “The Bigger Picture.”

Despite Beijing’s bullying, Wu said, Taiwan is enjoying a chorus of support from like-minded partners such as Australia, Japan, the U.S. and countries throughout Europe. Democracies worldwide are also attaching greater significance to the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he added.

Wu said Australia’s backing for Taiwan’s international participation and inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership is sincerely appreciated. The government will continue deepening friendship and expanding exchanges and cooperation with the Indo-Pacific country across the board, he added. 
 
Wu also took the opportunity to express his support of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Australian and Japan, as well as the Australia-U.K.-U.S. trilateral security pact in promoting a more free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Minister Wu’s @ASPI_org conversation is a must for those seeking a sophisticated take on top #Taiwan topics like the country’s foreign policy priorities, #TaiwanModel of assistance & relations with #Australia. Listen & read!” (YCH-E)