Taiwan is asking the West to support Ukraine, because if Putin wins, it would encourage China to attack. Interview with David Huang, representative of the island in Switzerland.
Francesco Benini / ch media
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David Huang criticizes China’s growing pressure on Taiwan. The island’s representative in Switzerland (there is no official embassy) calls on the West to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Indeed, if Putin wins, the diplomat fears that this will give wings to Beijing and push the regime to take over his country.
In May, Taiwan will have a new government. What are your expectations?
David Huang: The continuity. The president-elect has made it clear that he will maintain the current foreign policy course. There is no reason to change, as Taiwan enjoys great international support.
How would you describe the current relationship between Taiwan and mainland China?
They are comparable to the relations between the European Union and China: we are economic partners, political competitors and systemic rivals. 36% of our trade is with China. We are not competing with China strategically, but politically.
“China is trying to stifle Taiwan’s international space”
We must expand our international space to survive. We are a democracy and we respect human rights, while China is an authoritarian regime. I hope China will one day become a democracy. But we are seeing growing tensions with Beijing.
David Huang in Zurich in 2019.Image: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan
David Huang
Dr David Huang has been Taiwan’s representative in Switzerland since 2018. He studied diplomacy in Taiwan, then political science at MIT (United States), before obtaining his doctorate at Oxford in the United Kingdom.
What tensions?
Chinese warplanes and ships circle Taiwan daily. They cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait. And two months ago, China suddenly announced new flight routes for its airlines. They are trying to restrict our airspace. China has also stopped the import of certain Taiwanese agricultural products.
The majority of Taiwanese citizens are in favor of status quo in their relations with China. Is this also your position?
We want to defend the status quo, our democracy and our freedom. We do not want to submit to China. Unfortunately, Beijing wants to change the status quo.
Chinese President Xi Jinping says “reunification is inevitable.” What do you think?
Taiwan is a democracy, everything is possible. People have a choice. The government wants status quo, but it’s up to people to decide. All options are open.
Is independence also an option?
We are committed to the principle of democracy. Independence, reunification, status quo – it is the Taiwanese people who decide.
