Taiwan hopes the world will sanction China as it is sanctioning Russia for its war on Ukraine if Beijing decides to invade the island, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on Saturday.
The island has adhered to Western-led sanctions against Russia, and on Friday added Belarus to the list. The moves are largely symbolic, given Taiwan’s minimal levels of direct trade with the two countries.
But Ukraine’s plight has gained widespread public sympathy in Taiwan over what many people see as parallels between what is happening in the European country and what could happen if China uses force to bring the island it claims as its own under Chinese control.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei at an event to mark the founding of what would become the European Union, Wu said it was important to stand with others in denouncing the invasion and sanctioning both Russia and Belarus.
“In the future, if we are forcefully threatened by China or invaded, of course we hope that the international community can understand and support Taiwan and sanction this kind of aggressive behavior,” he added.
“So Taiwan stands with the international community and takes these measures,” Wu said, referring to the sanctions.
Taiwan has raised its alert level since the start of the Ukraine war, wary of China making a similar move, although the Taipei government has reported no signs of an imminent attack.
China, which did not condemn Russia’s invasion, dismissed any comparisons with Taiwan, saying the island is not a country and just a Chinese province, a view that Taipei’s democratically elected government strongly disputes.
Speaking at the same event, Speaker of Taiwan’s parliament You Si-kun said Ukraine “has done very well”, taking on Russia for more than 70 days, earning Taiwan’s “admiration”.
“We hope that Ukraine will be definitively victorious and remain firm until the end of the conflict.”
Most countries, including the United States and all EU member states, only have formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, not Taipei, and, unlike Ukraine, do not recognize Taiwan as a country.
Source: CNN Brasil
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