Month: June 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to European Parliament resolution expressing concern over China’s suppression of research and activities regarding Taiwan

Date：2026-06-17
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

June 17, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomes a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in a plenary session on June 16 entitled “Countering transnational repression: towards an EU strategy to protect Europe’s sovereignty and democratic values.”

The resolution addressed the nature and forms of transnational repression, as well as counter strategies for the European Union. It discussed China’s use of extraterritorial infrastructure to conduct full and systematic surveillance, intimidation, forced returns, and other measures, drawing attention to China’s abuse of International Criminal Police Organization mechanisms. It also highlighted China’s pressure on academics to halt research regarding such sensitive issues as supply chains, forced labor practices, Tibet, and Taiwan, as well as on artists to cancel activities involving Taiwan. 

MOFA also commends the resolution for calling on the European Union and member states to strengthen coordination with like-minded partners in such areas as legislation, victim protection, attribution, and sanctions.

Transnational repression by authoritarian regimes has caused significant challenges to democratic nations and civil societies. It has undermined academic freedom, freedom of speech, and human rights protection, and jeopardized social resilience. 

MOFA is pleased that the European Parliament pays close attention to related issues and supports the European Union’s enhancement of response mechanisms. Moving forward, MOFA will continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges with the European Union and like-minded nations in such areas as information sharing, building democratic resilience, and countering authoritarian coercion.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

ROC (Taiwan) government expresses sincere condolences on passing of Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha

Date：2026-06-16
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 16, 2026  No. 271  The government of the ROC (Taiwan) expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Kromluangrajasarinisiribajra Mahavajrarajadhita, eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand. President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai have conveyed the sympathies of the people and government of Taiwan over the loss of Princess Bajrakitiyabha through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand. On June 16, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger visited the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei to pay his respects and deliver a message of condolence on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Princess Bajrakitiyabha devoted her life to the nation and people of Thailand, serving in such key positions as prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General and Thailand’s ambassador to Austria. She was also a long-term campaigner for elevating the status of women and vulnerable groups. Her wisdom and compassion were deeply admired by the Thai people. The cabinet of Thailand has ordered a 15-day period of national mourning. MOFA asks citizens visiting Thailand to observe royal mourning protocols as a mark of respect to the country during this somber time. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

June 16, 2026  No. 270  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns and protests China’s rogue behavior in pressuring Kenya to block Taiwanese scholars’ participation in the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC 11), as well as the Kenyan government’s heavy-handed actions in this matter, which violated human rights and established international practices.

The Taiwanese scholars arrived in Mombasa on June 14 at the invitation of the government of Kenya, which was the host for OOC 11. They were scheduled to attend a preconference research symposium and present professional research reports. However, while completing check-in procedures at the event venue, the scholars were denied access credentials because the organizers claimed they did not recognize Taiwan passports. 

The Directorate of Immigration Services of Kenya then forcibly intervened in the matter. Despite Taiwan’s efforts to negotiate, the authorities confiscated the scholars’ passports and mobile phones and detained them for over 20 hours. Having restricted these individuals’ personal freedom and right to communicate, the authorities finally agreed to let the scholars leave the country by plane. 

The other members of Taiwan’s official delegation, which had been organized by the Ocean Affairs Council in line with established practice, were already en route to Kenya at the time of the incident but subsequently decided not to attend OOC 11, given the hostile actions of the Kenyan government and in consideration of delegation members’ safety. 

As an indispensable partner in global efforts to ensure ocean sustainability, Taiwan has participated in the OOC since 2015. Taiwan has upheld the principles of professionalism, pragmatism, and making contributions to promote exchanges and cooperation in international maritime affairs. It has also encouraged scholars to attend and share Taiwan’s marine ecological conservation efforts and research findings. 

Disregarding Taiwan’s noteworthy contributions to the OOC over the years, the Kenyan government precluded the Taiwanese scholars from attending this year’s conference, and even detained them. MOFA strongly protests the actions of host nation Kenya, which decided to serve as a political accomplice of China in direct contravention of the OOC principles of inclusivity and collaboration. This incident once again exposes China’s unreasonable and hegemonic diplomatic behavior and its maneuvering to prioritize politics over expertise on oceanic sustainability.

MOFA solemnly demands that China cease such behavior, which has undermined global cooperation on oceanic affairs. It also calls on friendly nations to take this matter seriously and engage in joint action to prevent China from escalating its diplomacy of intimidation.

A maritime nation, Taiwan has consistently been an active participant in global efforts to conserve marine ecology and ensure environmental sustainability. Taiwan does not fear and will not bow to China’s arbitrary, domineering actions. It will continue to work with the international community to promote global cooperation on oceanic affairs. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly refutes false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement by China and Laos

Date：2026-06-07
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 7, 2026  No. 252  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) refutes and condemns in the strongest terms the false claims regarding Taiwan made in a joint statement between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In the statement, issued on June 6, Laos pledged to support China in its efforts to realize “national unification.” Such baseless sentiments aim at downgrading Taiwan’s sovereignty, encourage the use of force against Taiwan, and affect regional peace and stability. MOFA strongly condemns China’s repeated use of joint statements with nations deferring to its stance to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and distort the truth. Laos continues to ignore the facts despite repeated corrections and admonitions from Taiwan, demonstrating its persistent stance in collaborating with China to suppress Taiwan. MOFA again cautions the Laotian government that appeasement of authoritarianism will lead the people of Laos into a vicious cycle of being entrapped in China’s political and economic coercion.The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign country, and neither it nor the PRC is subordinate to the other. These are undeniable objective facts and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. MOFA once again calls on the world to pay heed to China’s long-standing attempts to rationalize its heavy-handed expansionist ambitions and undermine the sovereign decisions of other nations. Taiwan is willing to collaborate with all nations that support freedom, democracy, and human rights to oppose authoritarian expansionism, staunchly defend peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, and uphold a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to transit of Canadian naval vessel through Taiwan Strait

Date：2026-05-30
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

May 30, 2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes the transit of HMCS Charlottetown, a Halifax-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy, through the Taiwan Strait from May 22 to 23 and commends Canada for taking concrete action to uphold freedom, peace, and openness in the Indo-Pacific region and demonstrate its firm stance that the Taiwan Strait is indeed international waters.
 
The passage of HMCS Charlottetown marked the first time a Canadian warship had transited the Taiwan Strait this year and the eighth time since Canada published its Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022.
 
The government of Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and deepen exchanges and cooperation with democratic partners to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and maintain peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to media report concerning alleged pro-China remarks by US scholar at Eswatini cabinet meeting

June 12, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) in Eswatini are fully aware of related reporting and the political situation in Eswatini following an online media report by South Africa-based Swaziland News that in April, Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini invited US economist Jeffrey Sachs to participate in a cabinet retreat, during which Mr. Sachs allegedly asserted that Eswatini should establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China on the grounds of economic interests.

The opinion allegedly articulated by Mr. Sachs is merely the personal view of an overseas academic. It prompted strong expressions of concern and questions from a number of Taiwan-friendly members of the Eswatini Parliament, clearly demonstrating that the solid diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini enjoy extensive recognition and high levels of support from all quarters of Eswatini society.

The ROC (Taiwan) and the Kingdom of Eswatini established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, and the two nations have long maintained close cooperation in a range of fields. Bilateral relations advanced further when President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini in May, traveling there aboard King Mswati III’s official jet.

In remarks made in the international arena and domestically, King Mswati has continued to staunchly endorse bilateral ties. Diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini remain stable and cordial. Furthermore, in displays of close friendship with Taiwan, Prime Minister Dlamini and his wife visited Taiwan in 2024, and Prime Minister Dlamini personally greeted President Lai at the airport during his visit to Eswatini in May.

The government of Taiwan is closely monitoring China’s use of zero tariffs and other economic sweeteners as bait as it attempts to divide Taiwan and its diplomatic allies and suppress Taiwan’s international space. MOFA strongly condemns such actions. China has long made exaggerated and false economic commitments in its coercion of other nations, not only conspiring to undermine unity within nations maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan but also making associated promises that have proven to be worthless.

Long-term cooperation between Taiwan and Eswatini in such areas as agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, ICT, energy, and economics and trade has generated abundant results, yielding genuine benefits for the vast majority of Eswatini citizens. This is the consensus of King Mswati and Eswatini society.

Building upon this foundation and giving full play to the spirit of integrated diplomacy, Taiwan will continue to promote the development of cooperative, mutually beneficial bilateral ties, working with Eswatini to safeguard the welfare of both peoples and the friendship between both nations.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to US Secretary of State Rubio’s interview on Trump-Xi summit

May 15, 2026  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) continues to pay close attention to interactions between the United States and China.
 
In an interview in Beijing on May 14 concerning the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized once again that the United States’ long-standing policy on Taiwan had remained unchanged across multiple presidential terms and administrations. He stressed that President Trump’s administration had continued to make arms sales to Taiwan since taking power and that arms sales had not featured prominently in discussions during the meeting. Mr. Rubio further reiterated that the United States opposed any change to the status quo by compulsion or force and emphasized that any disruption of regional stability would be detrimental to the United States, China, and the entire world.
 
MOFA also notes that Mr. Rubio pointed out that China’s objective in significantly expanding its military strength was not only to target Taiwan but to project power globally. To this day, People’s Liberation Army aircraft and vessels continue to operate around the Taiwan Strait and engage in various gray-zone harassment and military threats, showing the major risk that Beijing currently poses to regional peace and stability.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the United States for clarifying on numerous occasions that it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability, and for reiterating once again that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and staunchly cooperate with the United States and all other freedom-loving democracies to jointly defend peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to IPAC statement on Chinese interference in President Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini

April 22, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statement from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) released on April 21 condemning China’s coordinated coercion of other nations to block President Lai Ching-te’s flight path on a planned visit to Eswatini. IPAC’s announcement pointed out that China’s actions had exposed its relentless drive to isolate Taiwan, which had extended to an attempt to control the skies. The statement underlined that President Lai was a democratic leader who, like other heads of state, had the right to engage with partners without interference. It added that China had no right to determine the foreign policy of other countries. MOFA thanks IPAC and other like-minded partners for taking concrete action in support of Taiwan. It further calls on democratic countries to jointly denounce China for using political pressure to disrupt international civil aviation and interfere in the legitimate diplomatic activities of other states.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to statements by China’s Foreign Ministry concerning Taiwan-US tariff consensus

January 16, 2026    

At a regular press conference on January 16, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its firm opposition to the consensus reached between Taiwan and the United States on trade tariffs and related details.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reiterates that the ROC (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country, that its sovereignty belongs to the people of Taiwan, and that the People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan. These are objective facts and the internationally recognized status quo. China has no right to comment on or interfere in the sovereign actions of other nations. China’s remarks underscore its hegemonic mindset and how, as a troublemaker, it attempts to unilaterally change the international order.
 
MOFA is pleased that Taiwan’s negotiation team, led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun and Minister without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni, successfully reached a consensus with the United States and concluded talks on trade tariffs and related details. On the basis of this foundation and under the leadership of President Lai Ching-te and the Executive Yuan, MOFA will continue to implement its core strategy of integrated diplomacy, working with relevant ministries to promote economic diplomacy and expand cooperation with the private sector. By encouraging large businesses to lead smaller ones, combining tangible and intangible assets, furthering public-private collaboration, and advancing foreign engagement through domestic business models, MOFA is building an economic and trade joint fleet with the United States and continuing to steadily foster a comprehensive economic and technological bilateral partnership.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in a joint press release issued by PRC foreign minister and AU

January 9, 2026

During a visit to Ethiopia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a joint press release with the African Union (AU) on January 8 following the China-African Union Strategic Dialogue. The joint press release blatantly disregarded objective historical facts and contained false statements, including the claim that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.” 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns and protests the Chinese government’s continued efforts to spread lies and falsehoods in the international community so as to denigrate Taiwan’s sovereignty. It also expresses deep regret at the AU’s submission to and parroting of China’s political position, which deviates from international reality.
 
MOFA solemnly reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other. Taiwan has long played an active role in the international community and has made substantive and constructive contributions to its African and global partners. MOFA calls on the AU, an important regional organization, to adhere to objective facts and exercise independent judgement in its public remarks and statements. 
 
China continues to repeatedly disseminate false narratives on international occasions, engaging in political suppression and discourse manipulation. Such actions, which contradict facts and undermine the international order, are not just absurd; they expose China’s attempts at authoritarian interference.
 
The sovereignty of the ROC (Taiwan) belongs to the people of Taiwan. Only they can decide Taiwan’s future. As a force for good in the international community, Taiwan will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy and strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries to firmly defend the nation’s sovereignty, curb authoritarian expansionism, uphold the values of freedom and democracy, and further contribute to the international community.