Taiwan on Saturday stressed that it is prepared to defend itself amid ongoing tensions with Beijing, escalating a war of words over Afghanistan and claiming "China dreams of emulating the Taliban."
In a tweet, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu thanked the U.S. for protecting Taiwanese "democracy & freedom from communism, authoritarianism & crimes against humanity."
The Global Times, a tabloid controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, warned Taiwan on Monday against its reliance on the U.S. as an ally, adding that Taiwan will encounter a situation similar to the one that has unfolded in Afghanistan.
The paper explained how the U.S. troops withdrawal from Afghanistan prompted the Taliban to quickly take control of the nation, and described it as "a heavy blow to the credibility and reliability of the U.S."
"Taiwan is the region that relies on the protection of the U.S. the most in Asia, and the island's Democratic Progressive Party authorities have made Taiwan go further and further down this abnormal path," the paper stated.
It questioned the fate of Taiwan as it referenced the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, asking "is this some kind of omen of Taiwan's future fate?"
Thanks for upholding the wishes & best interests of the people of #Taiwan. They include democracy & freedom from communism, authoritarianism & crimes against humanity. #China dreams of emulating the #Taliban, but let me be blunt: We've got the will & means to defend ourselves. JW https://t.co/p71Mru2RLl
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 21, 2021
It also cited some examples of the consequences that occur when the U.S. withdraws its troops and evacuates its citizens. The paper referenced the fall of Saigon during the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and how the U.S. "abandoned their allies, the Kurds," when it left northern Syria in 2019.
"Some historians also point out that abandoning allies to protect U.S. interests is an inherent flaw that has been deeply rooted in the U.S. since the founding of the country," the paper added.
Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister at the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei, noted recently that Taiwan is not expecting China to ease its aggression, saying, "We can always hope for the best, but we sure need to prepare for the worst."
On Friday the U.S. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs urged Beijing to engage in "meaningful dialogue" amid the current aggression between both countries, saying, "We continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross Taiwan Strait relations consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan. We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan."
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