TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday criticized Laos’ claim that Taiwan is part of China, calling it a distortion of facts.
Laos released a statement last week opposing any attempts to split China or interfere in China’s internal affairs. The ministry said the remarks could encourage China to use military force against Taiwan, undermining regional peace and stability.
The ministry also condemned China for pressuring its allies to issue false statements that severely damage Taiwan’s sovereignty. “Beijing continues to mislead the international community,” it said.
The ministry warned the Lao government that appeasing authoritarianism only leads to aggression. Excessively accommodating China, it said, would not help Laos escape the debt-trap crisis stemming from China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The ministry reiterated that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, and that the Chinese Communist regime has never ruled Taiwan. “No country has the right to deny the objective existence of Taiwan,” it said.
The ministry stressed that countries should not echo China’s distorted narratives that undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty or legitimize authoritarian expansionism. Taiwan is willing to work with all countries that support freedom, democracy, and human rights to counter authoritarian expansion.
The ministry added that it is committed to safeguarding peace and freedom in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
