Taiwan: China State-run Media Libels Taipei’s Diplomatic Actions

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Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry accused China’s state-run tabloid of defaming its minister’s diplomatic European visits by categorizing them as “monetary diplomacy” and “dividing Europe’s Chinese policy.”

Jau-shieh Joseph Wu, the Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Belgium for about a week in late October. The three countries have diplomatic relations with China, and Taipei has economic and cultural offices in them.

During the trip, Wu received a Foreign VIP Laureates medal from the Czech senate, and successfully invited a committee of the European Parliament, the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation, to visit Taiwan in early November.

Disliking Taiwan’s diplomatic success, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry and state-run Global Times publicly called Wu a Taiwan independence activist. Global Times even gave a false report about Wu’s European trip, on Oct. 27.

Miloš Vystrčil, the President of the Czech Senate, presents a silver medal to Jau-shieh Joseph Wu, the Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Prague, Czech Republic on Oct. 27, 2021. (Supplied by Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)

Taiwan’s Statement

Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry published a statement on Oct. 29, which said that the Global Times libeled Wu’s visit by reporting it as “monetary diplomacy” and “dividing Europe’s Chinese policy” without “any fact” nor “evidence.”

“A state-run media fell to the level of only lying and publishing fake news. This really can only be done in the autocratic and totalitarian communist China,” the statement said. “Only the propaganda agent of a Communist Party, which doesn’t respect democracy nor rule of law, has this kind of mindset.”

The statement clarified that Wu’s European visit focused on emphasizing the democracy and freedom that Taiwan shares with Europe, as well as promoting bilateral trade and industry co-development.

Tsai Ing-wen, president of Taiwan, meets with a delegation from the European Parliament in Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 4, 2021. (Supplied by Taiwanese Presidential Office Building)

Beijing’s Anger

The Beijing authorities have always been angry at the Taipei government’s diplomatic activities, and criticized any state that has friendship with Taiwan as “interfering in China’s domestic affairs, and undermining the peace and stability in the region.”

Wu, Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister since February 2018, is frequently targeted by Beijing. Witnessing Wu’s success, seems to enrage the Chinese regime.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, chose negative words to describe Wu and the Taiwanese government on Oct. 26, “The real purpose of Wu’s diplomatic visits is promoting Taiwan independence, creating an illusion of one China and one Taiwan, and damaging China’s relations with countries with diplomatic relations.”

A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 in foreground flies on the flank of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6 bomber as it passes near Taiwan on Feb. 10, 2020. (Republic of China (ROC) Ministry of National Defense via AP)

The Chinese regime claims Taiwan as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

In past decades, the Beijing regime has tried its best to block the Taiwanese government from joining any international organizations including the World Health Organization, and participating in any international conferences including the United Nations.

The Chinese regime also targeted the countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It used big investments as bait, and convinced seven countries to switch knots from Taipei to Beijing from 2016 to 2019.

Beijing’s current target is the Vatican, the only state that Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations with in the developed world.

At present, Taiwan has diplomatic relations with 15 countries globally including in the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.