Lawmakers suggest new direction for Taiwan’s diplomatic relations
Lawmakers suggest new direction for Taiwan’s diplomatic relations
2023-03-27
The severing of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Honduras on Sunday has reignited debate on whether Taiwan should change its approach to diplomacy. One DPP lawmaker has suggested that Taiwan begin accepting “dual recognition,” and maintain ties with countries that also recognize Beijing. Meanwhile, one KMT lawmaker says that Taiwan could start a new chapter of international relations if the U.S. and Japan would resume formal relations with Taiwan.
Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
We don’t rule out any possibilities regarding our relations with countries that don’t have diplomatic ties with us. We’re considering the matter very carefully.
On Sunday, Taiwan and Honduras broke off diplomatic relations, leaving Taiwan with 13 diplomatic allies. One day later foreign minister Joseph Wu stated that nothing was off the table when it comes to Taiwan’s international relations. The comment has fueled speculation that Taiwan could switch to an approach of “dual recognition,” allowing countries to have diplomatic ties with both Taiwan and China.
Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
We’d be happy to accept any country that is willing to establish official or quasi-official relations with Taiwan. We could abandon the former KMT policy that goes “gentlemen and thieves cannot coexist.” After all, many countries around the world have diplomatic relations with China. Perhaps leaving such a policy would worry China, and put the ball in their court.
Lee De-wei
KMT lawmaker
The ruling administration, that is, President Tsai Ing-wen and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should consider which approach is in the R.O.C.’s interests. Everyone would support policies that are beneficial for Taiwan.
Both ruling and opposition lawmakers say they would endorse a shift in Taiwan’s diplomatic approach. The current policy has its roots in Taiwan’s authoritarian past. KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek insisted that the R.O.C. in Taiwan was the “real China,” referring to the communist leadership of the PRC as mere “insurgent groups.” Since then, the official policy in Taiwan has been to terminate ties with any country that established diplomatic relations with Beijing. One KMT lawmaker say that the times have changed, adding that if the U.S. and Japan were to resume official ties with Taiwan, it could be a new beginning for Taiwan’s foreign relations.
Johnny Chiang
KMT lawmaker
The U.S. should take the lead and consider resuming diplomatic relations with the R.O.C. Otherwise, it’s very hard for them to persuade other countries to establish diplomatic ties with us, or to not break off relations with us. That’s also the case for Japan, which stands with Taiwan. If they stand with Taiwan, they might as well resume official ties with us.
Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
What we pursue is regional peace and democratic values. Our main approach to international relations is to continue moving forward with friends that share these ideals and values.
Whether Taiwan will let go of its authoritarian legacy and expand its international reach remains to be seen.
雙重承認中國和台灣？吳釗燮：沒有排除任何狀況
2023-03-27
台灣與宏都拉斯斷交，邦交國降到13個，眼看國際空間越來越小，外交部長吳釗燮喊話跟非邦交國家來往，不排除任何狀況，被解讀是要推兩岸"雙重承認"，朝野立委樂見，直言"漢賊不兩立"時代已經過去，藍營立委更提到要做改變，就從美日兩國復交開始。
[[外交部長 吳釗燮]]
“跟其他非邦交國家的交往，我們沒有排除任何狀況，我們都會認真的來思考。”
我國與宏都拉斯斷交後，邦交國僅剩13國，外交部長吳釗燮提到與非邦交國關係，不排除任何狀況，似乎要力推國際上針對兩岸的"雙重承認"。
[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“任何願意跟台灣發展正式外交，或是準官方關係的國家，我們樂於接受，也會揚棄過去漢賊不兩立的外交策略，全世界跟中國建交的國家很多，所以中國可能要比較擔心一點，這個球回到他那一邊。”
[[立委(國) 李德維]]
“執政黨蔡英文總統跟外交部，應該去思考如何對中華民國更有利，對於台灣有利的政策大家會支持。”
朝野立委樂見外交方向調整，事實上過去蔣介石政府堅持"漢賊不兩立"，堅持中華民國為正統"中國"，中國共產黨是叛亂團體，只要任何國家與北京建立官方關係，台灣就選擇中止，但時空背景與國際局勢已大不相同，藍營立委更向美日喊話，要改變就從復交開始。
[[立委(國) 江啟臣]]
“應該就是美國跳出來直接先思考，跟中華民國復交的問題，否則的話一個跟我們沒有邦交的國家要去說服其他國家不要跟我們斷交，這其實也是滿困難的，包括日本也一樣，日本都是站在台灣這邊的，那如果日方站在台灣這邊，那就請來跟中華民國復交。”
[[行政院副院長 鄭文燦]]
“區域和平跟民主價值是我們台灣所追求的，最重要的方向，我們會跟國際上所有理念相同，價值相同的朋友們一起前進。”
推動雙重承認已是箭在弦上，能不能藉此突破台灣外交困境，備受各界關注。
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