Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Friday rejected Beijing’s criticism of Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s ongoing visit to Europe, asserting that China had no right to interfere in the country’s international engagements.
According to Focus Taiwan, MOFA issued a statement clarifying that Lin’s current European tour aims to promote the “Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025” campaign, initiated by the government, and to engage in routine exchanges with European allies. The ministry emphasized that China “has no right to interfere in other countries’ sovereign decisions,” and highlighted Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with democratic partners worldwide based on shared values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights.
Lin’s European journey commenced on September 10 in Prague, Czech Republic, and is expected to span more than ten days. However, MOFA has refrained from revealing the subsequent countries on Lin’s itinerary. The ministry’s statement also condemned attempts to intimidate Taiwan’s international participation, urging Beijing to cease its pressure on Taiwan and the global community.
MOFA’s declaration was a direct response to Beijing’s earlier criticism on Friday. During a press briefing in Beijing, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned that the Chinese government had made stern representations to the relevant countries, though details were not provided. Lin reiterated China’s consistent opposition to any official interactions between Taiwan and countries with which it has diplomatic relations, calling on European nations to “take immediate and effective measures to prevent Taiwan independence forces from making visits.”
Lin’s visit coincides with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s European tour, which began on the same day, with stops planned in Austria, Slovenia, and Poland during his four-day visit.
