China 'very likely' to invade Taiwan Envoy
- Thursday, June 23,2022
- 7 comments
New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) India should support Taiwan in joining international organisations for maintaining international order in the Indo-Pacific region, said a Taipei top official, while warning that China is "very likely" to invade his country. In an interview with UNI, Mumin Chen, the Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center here, said: "Despite sharing borders and cultures, Russia kept intimidating and eventually invaded (Ukraine). In the case of Taiwan and China, the situation is the same. "China also uses psychology and militarily kind of intimidation against Taiwan. They conduct a lot of military drills around Taiwan. Every month there is a military drill around Taiwan and then every week they send their fighter jets, military aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ (air defense identification zone)." He pointed out that almost 100 intrusions took place every month in 2021. Chen said the possibility of China invading Taiwan is shared by international security experts as well. "Several international security experts have also cited the probability of scenarios of war between Taiwan and China. So the danger is out there. We want the international community to see... This is something you have to pay attention." China considers Taiwan or Chinese Taipei a breakaway republic and has publicly declared its intention to merge it with the mainland. Taiwan had to give up its UN seat when China became a member of the world body. Chen pointed out that the continuous intimidation by China was the result its “insecurity”. “The Chinese government feels so insecure that they think that all other countries are working together against it. China’s foreign policies are aggressive. “Only by playing this nationalism/military card China could consolidate its (role) in the region. It is also the nature of their government. The Chinese government does not care about Taiwan and the reason they intimidate us is only for their own interest, which is confirming legitimacy for CPC (Communist Party of China).” Speaking on Taiwan’s role in maintaining international rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, the envoy said Taipei was not a part of the United Nations but it follows the international rules. “We want to join UN and other major international organisations. But the problem is not us. Taiwan in terms of GDP is 21st in the world with a population of about 23 million and yet it could not join UN because of China. “How come everybody listens to China? We still can join organistions of which China is not a part but we don’t oppose dual representation. In WTO and APEC China is also a member. It is ok for us.” He urged India to support Taiwan on “certain international occasions for the Taipei’s meaningful participation like in WHO". “When we talk about maritime security, India should support Taiwan’s participation in the dialogue, mechanisms or future agreements or organizations." UNI RNJ MR