New Southbound Policy Portal

Foreign Minister Wu gives interview to Australia’s Channel Nine

From Taiwan Today 2023-08-01

MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu (right) discusses Taiwan’s commitment to freedom and democracy with Jonathan Kearsley of Australia-based Channel Nine during an interview July 28 in Taipei City. (MOFA)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Taiwan is committed to working with democracies around the world to deter China from launching an assault on Taiwan.

The minister made the remarks during an interview with Jonathan Kearsley in Taipei City for a segment aired July 30 in prime time by Australia-based Channel Nine’s 9 News TV program.

Headlined “U.S. to help Taiwan bolster military against China,” the segment also covers the annual Han Kuang military exercises that took place July 24-28 around Taiwan.

According to Wu, China is escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait and is trying to interfere with Taiwan’s presidential election in early 2024 through disinformation. China thinks it can impose its will on the Taiwanese people, but the minister said that this will never work.

Persistent sorties by China’s warplanes only lead to stronger aversion from the people, he said. If Beijing makes a misjudgment in the cross-strait area and starts a war against Taiwan, it will lead to disastrous results, Wu cautioned.

The people of Taiwan love their democratic way of life, and nobody can take that away, Wu said. Beijing needs to stop using military threats against Taiwan and preventing it from participation in international organizations, he added.

The minister also took the opportunity to thank the global community for standing with Taiwan, citing statements expressed by the U.S., Australia, Japan and the EU on the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, as well as commitment from the U.S. to helping enhance Taiwan’s military training.

With such international support, Taiwan is more confident than ever that it can deter China from contemplating using force against Taiwan, he said. Wu added that he advocates the strong and robust relationship with Australia as one of Taiwan’s best friends. (SFC-E)