by Martin Banks
Speaking on Tuesday, (30 September) Professor Dr Shieh Jhy-Wey, who took up his new post only a week ago, said, “Sometimes I am asked: why not just give up? “I say: No way, no way.”
He spoke passionately of his country’s “fight for democracy” in the face of a huge neighbour and added, “People speak of the ‘Taiwan question.’ “But Taiwan is not a ‘question’ but is the answer. ”He added, “People also ask why all this matters. The answer is that Taiwan is a democracy and this is significant. It may be a small island but this (democracy) is important for world freedom.” He also stressed that Taiwan wanted to make a full contribution (to international organisations) “and must not be excluded. ”The 70-year-old. who is married with two daughters, was the keynote speaker at a special event to mark the 114th national day of Taiwan.
The Taipei Representative Office in Brussels hosted a high-profile reception in the city, attended by numerous political figures, including prominent MEPs such as Irish deputy Sean Kelly. The National Day of the Republic of China, also referred to as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day, is a public holiday in Taiwan and is seen as a significant annual landmark for the small island nation.
Dr Shieh, whose official title is Representative of the Taipei Representative Office to the European Union and Belgium, held a similar post in Germany since 2016. Previously, he served as director-general of the Government Information Office from 2007 to 2008. The experienced diplomat, in a wide-ranging speech, welcomed the support of those present at the Brussels gathering for Taiwan’s international participation and commitment to bilateral cooperation. In his remarks, the ambassador expressed gratitude for this continued support and highlighted Taiwan’s global leadership.
His comments broadly echo those made by the island’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung who, speaking earlier this week, said, "It is high time for Europe to stand with Taiwan, to forge a robust coalition for our shared values and halt the expansion of authoritarian regimes. Taiwan is ready to work with Europe; is Europe ready to work with Taiwan?"
The minister was visiting Poland and is seeking to find common cause with European democracies. Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has found an increasingly sympathetic ear in parts of central and eastern Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, even though almost all European countries only maintain formal diplomatic ties with Beijing and not Taipei. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
Elsewhere, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a sharp warning over the issue of Taiwan in a speech on Tuesday, saying Beijing must firmly oppose “external interference” and safeguard its territorial integrity. He said Beijing must deepen cross-strait exchanges with Taiwan, “firmly oppose separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” His speech once again illustrates the task Taiwan says it continues to face as it struggles to gain international support for its case. The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi planned to press US President Trump to formally state that the US opposed Taiwanese independence.
By: N. Peter Kramer
