《TAIPEI TIMES》 China remarks at OAS distort Taiwan’s status: MOFA

TRAVEL CONFUSION: The inclusion of Taiwan in a Laotian document for Chinese tourists gives the false impression Taiwan is part of China, MOFA said

By Wu Che-yu and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writer

請繼續往下閱讀...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs （MOFA） yesterday condemned the Chinese delegation at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States （OAS） for claiming that Beijing’s “one China” principle is recognized by the majority of the international community.

Chinese Ambassador to the US and Permanent Observer to the OAS Xie Feng （謝鋒） on Friday said at the assembly in Paraguay that 183 nations have built diplomatic relations with China based on the “one China” principle and that “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.”

In Taipei, the ministry reiterated that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation called the Republic of China and does not belong to the People’s Republic of China.

The People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan, a modern country that seeks to safeguard its democratic system, while respecting human rights and the rule of law, the ministry said in a news release.

That is the situation commonly recognized by the international community, it said.

No distorted narrative that denies Taiwan’s sovereignty can change its political status, the ministry said, adding that China’s false remarks could threaten cross-strait stability and disrupt the international order.

The ministry urged the international community not to endorse China’s “malicious comments” seeking to deprecate Taiwan’s sovereignty status.

Taiwan is on the front line of defending democracy, facing propaganda and military threats from China, it said, adding that Taiwan would reinforce its collaboration with other democracies to deter China’s authoritarian expansion, and defend cross-strait peace and prosperity.

In other news, the ministry on Friday said that a visa-waiver program for Chinese tourists announced by the Laotian government includes an element that gives the false impression that Taiwan is a part of China.

A document issued on Wednesday by the Laotian government showed that Chinese visitors to the county may visit visa-free for up to 15 days as part of a group tour, provided their itinerary has been approved by the Laotian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The policy, valid from tomorrow to Dec. 31, also extends to tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, the document says.

The inclusion of Taiwan under the policy to boost tourism came amid pressure from Beijing and was aimed at giving the false impression that Taiwan is part of China, MOFA said.

Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, and Laos should not collaborate with China in undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty and international standing, the ministry said, adding that it has conveyed its stance to the Laotian government through Taiwan’s representative office in Vietnam.

Despite the policy, Taiwanese tourists visiting Laos still need on-arrival visas, as stated in a clause in the document.

There has been no change to regulations for Taiwanese wanting to visit Laos to obtain an electronic or on-arrival visa, the ministry said.

Additional reporting by CNA

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES