TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan wants to be a force for good through its diplomacy, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Lin said that last year, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) told him to pursue a foreign policy based on values and push Taiwan to become an economic powerhouse.
Taiwan wants to be “more resilient and secure” and indispensable in the global economy, Lin said. It also wants to play an important role in establishing non-Chinese supply chains, he said.
To implement this new form of diplomacy, “Taiwan aims to engage with the world through heads of states and high-level officials of diplomatic allies and like-minded partners,” and share its success story, Lin said
The foreign minister said that Taiwan is cooperating with many countries in semiconductors and robotics. Visits to Belgium, Lithuania, and Poland “enhanced our investments in these countries,” he said, particularly in the EV and drone industries.
As G7 nations become increasingly concerned about freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, they are keeping tabs on China’s provocations in the region, Lin said. This factor has added to global support for Taiwan’s international participation, including in the World Health Assembly.
Many countries have protested China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758, which Beijing uses as a legal justification to invade Taiwan. The US has “spoken strongly” about this at the UN Security Council, Lin said. More resolutions around the world pushing back against Chinese pressure towards Taiwan have also been passed by parliaments around the world, he added.
In terms of relations with diplomatic allies, Taiwan used to provide them with financial aid as the primary form of assistance. However, the foreign ministry wanted to try something different under the Lai administration, Lin said.
The Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, which was introduced last year, has led to initiatives in many countries. The project covers eight areas, including semiconductors, digital governance, smart medical services, and sustainable tourism.
One example is the Taiwan Paraguay Smart Technology Park, which was inaugurated in February. The park aims to boost employment, attract investment, and increase innovation within Paraguay’s industrial sector.
Lin said this integrated concept has become the guideline of Taiwan’s diplomacy. He recalled Lai’s theme of “Taiwan greeting the new world, the world greeting a new Taiwan” in his inauguration speech. The foreign minister pledged that Taiwan would only “do good” in the world and never show aggression towards other countries.
