The newly elected government of Tsai Ing-wen will take office on May 20, and at that time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, will be transferred to the position of Secretary-General of the National Security Council. Speaking about the current situation of Taiwan’s diplomatic relations, Wu mentioned on May 9th that there are no issues with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies currently, but he expressed concerns over some actions taken by China, revealing that the Chinese Communist Party has targeted two of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies for long-term infiltration to create internal turmoil. However, he reassured that there will be no immediate changes in Taiwan’s diplomatic relations.
In a morning interview on a radio program, Wu talked about the eight countries that severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan during his tenure. He shared that it is always heartbreaking when diplomatic relations are severed, but he emphasized the need to withstand the pressure and responsibility. Wu also mentioned that he would occasionally ask the President if he should resign to take responsibility for such incidents, but he was always told that the fault did not lie with him.
Wu provided an example, citing a country that requested 6 billion US dollars, with some countries openly stating their financial demands. For instance, Honduras, a former diplomatic ally of Taiwan, once sent a letter demanding billions of dollars, claiming they didn’t need assistance in building hospitals, only requiring money. Wu stressed that such demands cannot be met and it is essential to be accountable to the taxpayers.
Incoming President, Tsai Ing-wen, set to take office on May 20, along with Wu, discussed the recent status of diplomatic relations with other countries. Wu mentioned that as of now, “our diplomatic relations are stable,” but he expressed concerns over certain actions by the Chinese Communist Party.
Wu further highlighted a diplomatic ally that has been experiencing prolonged unrest and has required United Nations assistance. Taiwan has invested significant resources to aid in the country’s reconstruction, which has been deeply appreciated. However, he expressed worries about a country being embroiled in long-term conflicts, even though there are no immediate issues with diplomatic relations.
Moreover, Wu mentioned another diplomatic ally through which China has been clandestinely infiltrating extreme leftist elements, creating internal chaos through neighboring countries. These actions pose long-term concerns, but he reiterated that there will be no immediate diplomatic issues.
Wu emphasized that in the past, Taiwan was seldom mentioned by the international community. Yet, during his tenure, despite the reduction in the number of diplomatic allies, Taiwan has made substantial progress in its substantive relations with many countries. One significant indicator is that many nations have started discussing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, even emphasizing the need to maintain the current status quo.
Currently, Taiwan has diplomatic ties with only 12 countries, including two in Central America (Belize, Guatemala), four in the Caribbean (Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), four in the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, Nauru), one in South America (Paraguay), one in Africa (Eswatini), one in Europe (Vatican City).