President Tsai Ing-wen says it is unfair to compare Ukraine’s invasion by Russia with the threat Taiwan faces from China. Several media reports have drawn comparisons between Taiwan and Ukraine, noting that both countries are threatened by larger neighbors.
Tsai, however, says Taiwan and Ukraine are fundamentally different. She says crossing the Taiwan Strait, the body of water dividing Taiwan and China, would be a significant challenge to any potential invader. In addition, the president says Taiwan’s geostrategic position in the region is unique.
Tsai also says Taiwan’s defensive capabilities are constantly improving, and Taiwan’s allies are showing great concern for regional security. That’s why Tsai says she has confidence Taiwan can remain safe and secure from external threats.
Moreover, Tsai says she is concerned that hostile forces overseas might try to sow fear and panic by comparing Taiwan to Ukraine. She says this kind of “cognitive warfare” aims to affect the morale of Taiwan’s people.
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng also says the military’s main focus is on what China does, not what happens in Ukraine. Nonetheless, Chiu says the military is following developments in Ukraine with the aim of learning from Ukraine’s defensive tactics.