Taiwan’s government has received some warning signs about the potential loss of diplomatic allies as Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) begins his third term, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said Wednesday, without naming the countries he was referring to.
Taipei will face “greater security threats” and “fiercer diplomatic pressure” from Beijing after the just-concluded 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — at which Xi was elected to rule for another five-year term, Wu said during a report to the Legislature.
The government has foreseen and picked up some warning signs that official relationships between Taiwan and its allies could be the first target of China’s coercive measures as Xi begins his third term, Wu said, though without specifying any details.
Since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in May 2016, eight countries have switched political allegiance from Taiwan to China, leaving Taiwan with just 14 diplomatic allies.
Wu would not name the diplomatic allies Taiwan could potentially lose to China, vowing that the government would make “all-out efforts” to consolidate the relationships.
Besides this potential issue, given that China’s international image remains broadly “negative” after the CCP’s 20th National Congress, global dynamics have also created opportunities for Taiwan to raise support and friendships internationally, Wu said.
As the world starts to see a contest between authoritarianism and democracy emerge, issues related to Taiwan’s security are more easily put in the international spotlight and there will be growing opportunities for Taiwan to expand its international participation, Wu said.
Meanwhile, Tsai is thinking of making an overseas trip next year, following a hiatus of more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is no set plan yet, he said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel