International Press Group Visits Taiwan

At the invitation of the Republic of China (Taiwan), an International Press Group visited the Far East country on an itinerary prepared by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The group was comprised of 30 delegates coming from 24 different countries. This included the United States (California, Washington D.C. Alaska), Spain, Poland, Brazil, Paraguay, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Oman, Nigeria, Colombia, Australia, Germany, Eswatini, South Korea, St. Christopher and Nevis, Slovakia, Kuwait, Italy, Fiji, Israel, Denmark, Malaysia and Belize) Some countries had a number of delegates but generally each had one. The editor of the Belize Times Press, Jose Jimenez, was invited to this year’s Press Group.

Probably journalists all over the world were asking 'why not me?' The embassy routinely invites journalists from other media houses on a rotation basis. The objective of the invitation was to showcase to a cross section of the world press “the latest development of Taiwan in the field of politics, economy and society.” The feat to get journalists from all these countries was most likely a challenging one on many fronts. Journalists were invited by the government of ROC (Taiwan) following a broad range of reasons. The details of the itinerary chosen by the MOFA revealed what are the points that the Taiwan government wanted expose to the journalists on this press group’s visit. There was so much that Taiwan can offer and any press trip’s itinerary is a sample of what can be shown.

Presentations to the Group were done by Director-General Connie Chang, Department of Overall Planning, National Development Council; Secretary General Hua Shijie, Mainland Affairs Council; Director-General Catherine Hsu, Department of International Information Services, MOFA; Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Secretary-General Stephen J. H. Lee, International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF); Deputy Minister Roy Chun Lee, MOFA; Vice Minister Chen Chern-chyi, Ministry of Economic Affairs; Acting Deputy CEO Ming-Shih Shen, Institute for National Defense and Security Research; and Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan, Ministry of Health and Welfare. These short presentations were followed by Questions and thus Answers. The officials’ responses were focused on the claim that mainland People's Republic of China has on the island of Taiwan. The reason why mainland China claims Taiwan is definitely historically complex as is the question of Guatemala's unfounded claim on Belize. The various Taiwanese government officials all addressed most topics with the general theme: Taiwan seeks peace and to deter war as no one will benefit from war. No one includes mainland China which does not benefit from war; Taiwan does not benefit and neither does Belize, which is a part of the world community. In fact, the point was put that Ukraine’s invasion is a heavy example that shows how an invasion will not solve mainland China quest to acquire the Taiwan island for itself.

The officials voiced that Taiwan has no interest in any aggressive move towards mainland China or coming from mainland China. ROC Taiwan's focus is on deterrence. Nevertheless, one official stated that God will help those who help themselves. That was answered whenever asked if Taiwan expects that the United States or any other country should help Taiwan in the instance of China invading the island. Taiwan seeks to have a peaceful Taiwan Strait and wishes to avoid any embargo such as what Cuba has suffered for some 60 years.

When Belizeans purchase items, imported or locally-made, they directly feel the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Thousands of miles away, but the disruption of production and supply chains has caused soaring oil/fuel prices which then spread to inflated prices on goods that traverse the globe. The international press was sensitized by all officials that an invasion of Taiwan by mainland China will disrupt the world order in a similar way. Belize has definitely felt the global effects by the Ukraine war and definitely would feel the economic effects of an invasion of Taiwan or even a China-imposed blockade of the Taiwan Strait and of commerce into and out of Taiwan.

5 FEB 2023

The geopolitical reality of Taiwan and their diplomacy around the world is complex and cannot be explained by any one angle. How does Belize fit in this People's Republic of China-Republic of China(Taiwan) question of sovereignty? It is up to the people of Belize to become informed on as much details as possible. Is it immoral for mainland China to claim Taiwan in this day and age when Taiwanese citizens have chosen how to live their lives?

The press group’s visit was another way to demonstrate that Taiwan's existence in the world stage is already a reality. Taiwan is 13,976 square miles of true grit and love of country. It is a country of 23 million with high-end technologically advanced healthcare, small but is the 21st largest world economy, an exceptional leader in green technology and fuel efficiency, a giant semiconductor manufacturer, amongst other feats. The cross-section of journalists drilled the officials with varied questions that searched for more reasons as to why Taiwan's sovereignty should not be in peril.

Today, mainland China and Taiwan have a number of daily flights. The number per day varies depending on the day and airline. This is a signal that the status quo can be considered stable and not close to war as some would want us to believe.

Mixed with the geopolitical discourse were visits to the Presidential Office Building, the National Palace Museum, the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, the Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts, the Taipei 101 Observatory, and to i-Ride Taipei. Even restaurant visits were ingeniously designed to send the message that Taiwan is of itself a thriving country without the need of a spurious claim. Taiwan wants to be included in the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international organizations and feels it is in the capacity to help in global development./////

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