Taiwanese officials have expressed outrage following the People's Republic of China's recent attempt to claim worldwide sympathies in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck the island. China, which asserts disputed claims of ownership over Taiwan, issued a statement thanking the global community for their expressions of grief after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook the region.
The Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N., Geng Shuang, expressed gratitude for the international community's sympathy and concern. However, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly criticized the statement, denouncing it as a 'shameless use of the Taiwan earthquake' to advance China's international agenda.
China's statement, which implied sovereignty and ownership over Taiwan, comes amidst escalating tensions in East Asia. Recent reports indicated a significant presence of Chinese warplanes and naval ships near Taiwan, marking the largest coordinated display since the previous year. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected at least 30 planes and nine ships in the country's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
The incursion by People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and sea vessels followed a recent phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, their first conversation since July 2022. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the challenges posed by China's military expansion and gray-zone provocations in the region, welcoming the international community's focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The Ministry affirmed Taiwan's commitment to enhancing its self-defense capabilities and strengthening partnerships, particularly with the United States. Taiwan pledged to collaborate with like-minded allies to uphold the rules-based international order and ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
