Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning (毛寧) claimed Taiwan is a part of China, and dismissed the possibility of it having a president at a press conference last Thursday. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry responded on Friday, claiming the statements are misleading to the international community and noting that such claims are inconsistent with objective facts and the current situation across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry pointed out that a milestone in the country’s democratic development was achieved in January, 2024, when its people voted to elect Taiwan’s eighth president. The ministry additionally pointed out that this came with congratulations and praise from representatives for over 50 countries across the world including the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Taiwan’s 12 official diplomatic allies. The ministry said it believes many democratic countries also look forward to the Chinese people being able to directly elect their own president one day and have a say in the future of their country.
The Foreign Ministry maintains that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to one another, that the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, and that statements attempting to distort Taiwan’s sovereignty cannot change the internationally recognized cross-strait status and objective reality. The ministry reiterated that Taiwan's future is up to its 23.5 million people, and China has no right to interfere.