The Group of Seven (G7) called on Beijing to refrain from "aggressive military activity" in the Taiwan Strait. In a joint statement issued on August 3, the forum expressed its concern over "threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation."
The Taiwanese government and people are grateful for this reaffirming commitment to peace and stability.
It takes two to make peace. Taiwan never looked for conflict. President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed her wish to ensure the safety of Taiwan, and presented an extended friendly gesture to hold constructive dialogue with the Chinese government in order to maintain the status quo and contribute to regional peace.
Its consistency in preserving regional peace, stability, and prosperity has won accolades from the international community.
Consistency is also the foundation of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week. This is in line with the longstanding commitment to democracy on the part of the U.S. government and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.
Pelosi's visit is part of the existing framework of U.S.-Taiwan relations. Former congressman Newt Gingrich already visited Taiwan as speaker in 1997 and met with late president Lee Teng Hui.
In this respect, Pelosi's visit is an established precedent and does not undermine the status quo, nor should it be used as justification for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait.
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U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen
(Photo: GettyImages)
Escalating tensions in the region and disruptions to international transportation and trade do not serve the interests of either party. Taiwan will neither escalate the conflict nor instigate disputes, but we will resolutely defend our nation’s sovereignty and our security, and stand as a bulwark of democracy and liberty.
As a reliable member of the international community, Taiwan will maintain peace and will not act in haste. All this notwithstanding, we will never capitulate to pressure as the people of Israel are determined to protect their homeland.
Taiwan stands at the forefront of protecting democracy and plays a key role in the global supply chain as it controls 63% of the world's semiconductor production and dominates 92% of advanced chip production.
Out of the world's top ten ICT (Information and Communications Technology) equipment manufacturers, seven are headquartered in Taiwan, accounting for 80% of the global OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) electronics market.
Taiwan's security and resilience impact the global economy as geographic distances dwarf and nations become increasingly intertwined.
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Taiwanese Navy warships are anchored at a harbor on August 07, 2022, in Keelung
(Photo: Getty Images)
We know we bear a tremendous responsibility to maintain global prosperity and economic growth. That is why the Taiwanese government has been closely monitoring the situation to ensure flight and shipping routes remain secure and open, and that airports and seaports continue to operate normally, and that the economy and financial institutions remain stable in the face of the military drills taking place around Taiwan.
Peace in the Taiwan Strait is everyone's shared responsibility. Taiwan is doing its best to maintain the status quo with China and the stability of the global supply chain.
Taiwan would like to thank G7 member states, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and its many good friends around the world for supporting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
We call on all fellow democracies to stand in unity because we believe that no matter the odds, no matter the obstacles in our path, democracies will always stand as one and the democratic way of life will prevail.
Abby Lee is a representative at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv