Only 14 states worldwide still have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, among them Guatemala, Haiti, and Paraguay. The Chinese Communist Party government in mainland China views Taiwan as a rebel province and has put pressure on countries to cut diplomatic ties with the island.
Amid concern over what a Vatican decision to renew its 2018 provisional accord with Beijing would mean for the Holy See’s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in 2020 that it had received assurances from the Vatican regarding the renewal of the Vatican-China deal.
“While Communist China continues to provoke and intimidate Taiwan, Japan, and other neighboring countries by dispatching military aircraft and vessels in the Taiwan Strait, the East and South China Seas, these attempts clearly demonstrate that China’s authoritarian expansionist ambitions are not confined to Taiwan but extend to exerting its influence worldwide and changing the rules-based international order,” Lee said.
“Taiwan has constantly reached out to China to seek for any kind of equal dialogue and common grounds, to avoid any possible conflict. Taiwan, as a sovereign state, is the frontline democracy, and it is absolutely vital that democratic countries hold firm in resisting authoritarian aggression together. Taiwan will jointly create a democratic and resilient alliance to protect the rules-based international order and ensure an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
