Taiwan keep high hopes on the world if China tries to invade island

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Saturday said that Taiwan hopes that the world would sanction China like it is sanctioning Russia for its war on Ukraine if Beijing invaded the island.

Taiwan has joined in Western-led sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and on Friday added Belarus to that list.

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Reuters reported that the moves are largely symbolic given Taiwan’s minimal levels of direct trade with Belarus or Russia.

But Ukraine’s plight has won broad public sympathy in Taiwan due to what many people view as the parallels between what is happening in the European country and what could happen if China ever uses force to bring the island it claims as its own under Chinese control.

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Wu, speaking to reporters, said it was important to stand with others in denouncing the invasion and sanctioning both Russia and Belarus.

“In the future, if we are threatened with force by China, or are invaded, of course we hope the international community can understand and support Taiwan, and sanction these kinds of aggressive behaviours,” he added.

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“So Taiwan stands with the international community, and takes these actions,” Wu said, referring to the sanctions.

Earlier, Taiwan had raised its alert level since the Russian invasion in Ukraine, wary of China making a similar move, though the government in Taipei has reported no signs of an imminent Chinese attack.

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China, which has not condemned Russia’s invasion, has dismissed any comparisons with Taiwan, saying it is not a country and merely a Chinese province, a view the democratically-elected government in Taipei strongly disputes.