Ambassador José María Liu
Representative of the Economic and Cultural Office of Taipei
Alberto Rubio
The conflict in Ukraine has brought Beijing’s claim to Taiwan back into the geopolitical spotlight. The parallels are enough, in the opinion of Ambassador José María Liu, to take seriously the possibility of an attack. The representative of the Taipei Office in Spain is confident of American support and does not believe that reunification under “one country, two systems” is possible.
Do you really think an invasion of Taiwan would be possible?
The risk of military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait exists. For us, Taiwan is not like Ukraine, but our concern is that China is like Russia, or worse. That is, a hegemonic power capable of undermining peace and stability not only in the region, but throughout the world. Because of our geopolitical reality, we Taiwanese have in common with the Ukrainians a large, hegemonic and hostile neighbor that threatens us and is unwilling to renounce the use of force, as demonstrated by the continuous incursions of Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Reality gives us a stark lesson that something similar to what has happened in Ukraine could also happen in Taiwan. But the resilience being demonstrated by the Ukrainian people in the wake of Russia’s invasion inspires the Taiwanese people and strengthens our commitment to continue to defend our freedom and democracy. We do not seek conflict, but we will do all we can to defend ourselves.
Last week a military exercise took place in the Strait in which the PLA deployed a large number of naval and air units. Is it to be taken seriously?
We are aware that if the West does not show its teeth in the face of what is happening in Ukraine, it will be setting a precedent for other authoritarian powers, such as China, to do as they please. Just as it has happened to Ukraine, we are under continuous threat from China, and therefore we call on democratic countries to stand united against any authoritarian encroachment. If the Chinese regime sees signs that unity among democratic countries is not strong enough, it may be tempted to take advantage of the situation in Ukraine to destabilize the Taiwan Strait. These are decisive moments when democratic alliances must unite strongly in the face of hegemonic expansion and take it very seriously.
Taiwan has dramatically increased its defense spending in recent years – would it be enough to stand up to mainland China or would it need U.S. support?
Russia’s military action is increasing our concern. Our aim is to work on self-defense and ensure our national security by strengthening our preparedness to respond to possible military actions in the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese military is working to enhance its defensive combat capabilities and asymmetric combat capabilities to respond to China’s military provocations. Our determination is to overcome challenges and we are determined to fight for the survival and prosperity of the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as the safety and well-being of all Taiwanese. The Taiwan Armed Forces have made remarkable progress in weapons and equipment procurement through increased defense budget, improved operational capabilities, transformation of the military service system, and in domestic production programs for aircraft and warships. Any kind of support from the democratic alliance, especially from the U.S., will be welcome, but in Taiwan we always think, above all, that “God helps those who help themselves”. In the future, we will spare no effort to strengthen our self-defense and continue to collaborate with like-minded countries to collectively contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
And, in that case, can it be taken for granted that Taiwan would have American support?
During his conversation with Xi Jinping on Friday, March 18 to discuss the Ukraine invasion issue, US President Joe Biden reiterated that US policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that his country continues to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. With the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the US guarantees its commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense and leaves the door open to US intervention in the event of Chinese military aggression on Taiwan. This gives us the assurance of the support of the US, which has repeated on numerous occasions that its commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid”. Our government sincerely appreciates the US support for maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
You are the world’s leading semiconductor producer, is that an insurance against the PRC or an added aggravation to an alleged casus belli?
Indeed, Taiwan has become the leading global supplier and the key player in the worldwide chip supply chain, accounting today for 63 percent of the global chip market. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) alone, Taiwan’s technology giant, holds 54 percent of the global chip market. Our President Tsai Ing-wen has always been very firm in maintaining that not defending Taiwan against threats from China would not only be catastrophic for the Taiwanese, but would mean ending the security architecture that has enabled peace and extraordinary economic development in the region for seven decades. In the words of our president, “if Taiwan were to fall, the consequences would be catastrophic for regional peace and the democratic alliance system, disrupt international trade and destabilize the entire Western Pacific.”
Is the peaceful reunification being talked about in Beijing possible?
Taiwan’s future must be determined by its own people. With military and diplomatic pressure from China steadily increasing, the great challenges facing Taiwan in 2022 center on defending our freedom, democracy and connection to the world. Our President Tsai Ing-wen has remarked on the four pillars of this year’s plan for stable governance in the Republic of China (Taiwan): (1) continuing our global engagement, (2) maintaining our economic momentum, (3) strengthening our social safety net, and (4) safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty. All with the goal of upholding our values of freedom and democracy and working to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The current Taiwanese government won the elections with an openly pro-independence message, which means that its people do not want to hear about “one country, two systems”. Is it time for a proclamation of independence?
After what has happened in Hong Kong in recent years, it has become clear to the world that the “one country, two systems” formula has turned out to be a complete failure. Cuts to democracy and attacks on press freedom with the closure of media outlets and detention of journalists are the most obvious proof of the rollback of freedoms in Hong Kong, something that the people of Taiwan will never accept. Recent polls conclude that there is an increasingly widespread rejection of China’s unification claims among the Taiwanese population. Some 90 percent of Taiwanese oppose the “one country, two systems” formula imposed by Beijing, as well as the Chinese regime’s efforts to limit Taiwan’s international space and to threaten us with military force.
Would it not be wiser for the People’s Republic to admit the status quo and negotiate an agreement that admits such independence?
We insist that Taiwan’s future should be determined by its own people. Whatever claims and threats the Chinese authorities make about Taiwan, the reality is that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has never been part of the People’s Republic of China. Despite all the military might of the People’s Republic of China, any invasion attempt will not succeed in breaking the solidarity of the Taiwanese people. In the end, history must lean toward democracy prevailing over autocracy.
What effect would aggression on Taiwan have on the entire Asia-Pacific area?
We have no doubt that if China attacks Taiwan, we will all – including China – pay a heavy price. Because in wars there are no winners, only losers. Our position has always been that we will not bow to pressure and neither will we act rashly when we have support. We want to remind the Beijing regime not to misjudge the situation and to stop the proliferation of war adventurism, consisting of continuous military threats. The use of military force is absolutely not an option to resolve the differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Only if we maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and if each side works to care for the livelihood and comfort of the people, will we achieve the proper environment for both sides to peacefully and jointly address and seek solutions to the problems we face.
China’s pressure is also reflected in Taiwan’s absence from international bodies such as the World Health Assembly (WHA). Has Taiwan’s situation changed at all?
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is the most important international organization overseeing the development of global public health and upholding the right to health, does not abide by neutrality and professionalism and continues to exclude Taiwan under pressure from China, which seriously compromises global health security. While the whole world continues to struggle against covid-19, Taiwan’s achievements in containing the pandemic, based on the use of technology, information transparency, strict border controls, and accurate investigation and detection of cases, have been widely recognized. Now, with the arrival of the new Omicron variant, which is more contagious but with milder symptoms, Taiwan’s new management model seeks to minimize the overall impact and allow people to lead normal lives while maintaining active prevention measures. Continuing with our slogans of “Taiwan can help” and “Taiwan is helping,” our determination to participate in global medical and health cooperation remains unchanged. Therefore, we urge WHO to adhere to the principles of professionalism and neutrality, reject inappropriate political interference, and invite Taiwan to participate in its World Health Assembly, which is being held May 22-28, as an observer. We also call on the international community to continue to strongly support Taiwan’s participation in the global health network so that we can continue to contribute actively in the post-pandemic era.