During an interview with the Associated Press (AP) on Friday, Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s top envoy to the US, said that the self-governing island had drawn important lessons from the Ukraine war regarding deterring its own aggressor — China.
Notable Comments
Hsiao said that Taiwan ultimately seeks to “deter the use of military force,” however, it was striving to “be better prepared” to deal with “a worst-case scenario.”
Referring to foreign visitors visiting the island, which usually prompts strong, and often, violent reactions from China, the diplomat stressed that China had “no right to decide or define how [Taiwan engages] with the world.”
Taiwan’s air force is conducting #exercises designed to practice quickly scrambling aircraft to defend its skies and show its citizens that they are always on guard.#Taiwan #China #news pic.twitter.com/T5J4zc75wS
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) January 14, 2023
Regarding the US and its allies sending billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Ukraine, thus straining global arms supplies, Hsiao said that the US reassured Taiwan that it continues to remain “a very important priority.”
The Taiwanese diplomat further remarked that Ukraine’s experience had taught the US and its allies the importance of maintaining a united stand behind threatened democracies.
“It’s critical to send a consistent message to the authoritarian leaders that force is never an option ... force will be met by a strong international response, including consequences,” Hsiao said.
Parallels with Ukraine War
Taiwan said last year that comparing its situation to Ukraine is inappropriate, as the two are fundamentally different and drawing any parallels between them is a manipulation of the situation.
US Senators in Kyiv: "If Putin gets away with this, there goes Taiwan. If Putin is successful in Ukraine and is not prosecuted under international law, everything we’ve said since WWII becomes a joke. He will continue beyond Ukraine" @LindseyGrahamSC @SenWhitehouse @SenBlumenthal pic.twitter.com/BSXheflwXL
— Paul Massaro (@apmassaro3) January 21, 2023
Nevertheless, there are indications that Taiwan is worried that China may make a similar move. Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, which Beijing has partly supported, the Taiwanese government has been on high alert.
Additionally, Taiwan’s military strategists have been studying Ukraine’s resistance in the hopes of formulating their own battle strategy to resist a potential Chinese invasion. Moreover, the government is considering extending compulsory military service beyond the current four months, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said last week.