Taiwan hits back at Chinese embassy’s criticism of WION interview

Taiwan has hit back at the Chinese embassy in Delhi over its criticisms of a WION interview featuring Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. The interview, conducted by WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal on Friday (Apr 12), sparked a strong response from the Chinese embassy, which expressed its strong disapproval. Not only did the embassy issue a lengthy statement, but sent copies of it to our correspondent.

Watch:China Embassy reacts to Taiwan FM's WION interview, says 'It will eventually unify with motherland'

The Taiwan government took to social media on Sunday to firmly dismiss the Chinese embassy's remarks. In a pointed post, Taiwan emphasised its status as a free country and its unwavering commitment to maintaining that freedom."Those Chinese communists just don’t get it: Taiwan is a free country & is determined to stay free," read the post, directly addressing Beijing's stance. It further admonished China's lack of tolerance for press freedom and expression, stating, "If they (Chinese) can’t stand the freedoms of the press & expression, they should steer clear of democracy. Learn to respect India & the will of Taiwanese people, OK?". The post concluded with a symbolic display of the flags of Taiwan and India, alongside the initials "JW" representing Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

The Chinese embassy's statement on Saturday reiterated Beijing's longstanding position on Taiwan, opposing any moves towards "Taiwan independence." This statement reflected China's assertive "wolf warrior" diplomacy, known for its aggressive approach to foreign relations.

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu's extensive interview with WION covered various topics, including the strengthening of ties between India and Taiwan and the current situation in the Taiwan Strait.

In recent months, there has been increased engagement between India and Taiwan, marked by significant developments such as the signing of a mobility pact and the involvement of a Taiwanese company in establishing a semiconductor fab plant in Gujarat. Moreover, Taiwan is set to open an office, serving as its de facto consulate, in Mumbai later this year, highlighting the growing cooperation between Taiwan and India, particularly in the economic and diplomatic spheres.