Taiwan: “If there is a world war, it will destroy the economy”
Interview with Tsung-che Chang, Taipei representative in Portugal
The Taiwan issue is anything but simple. Chinese President Xi Jinping – who is preparing for a third term – insists on so-called “reunification” plans, to which Taiwan responds: How, if “Taiwan never belonged to the communist regime”?
China’s threats – of recurrent resort to force if the island declares itself an independent country – Taipei stands firm. He assures that there will be no declaration of independence, because, after all, “we already have an independent country since 1912 until now, much older than communist China”.
These statements are from Taiwan in Portugal, Tsung-che Chang, who receive CNN Portugal at the Economic and Cultural Center of Taipei, in Lisbon.
The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China is taking place. Do you expect any significant changes?
After 1949, any political event in China is very important for Taiwan. The communist regime is not a transparent regime. There are no democratic decisions and therefore any change can cause conflicts.
However, I think any change will not go far the Chinese regime. Chinese communism does not have the legality of the people. The fight is always within the party. With these last 0 years of Xi Jinping, the world knows his region to expand its influence and. Taiwan is ready. But we are trying to avoid a war. We don’t want a war.
Taiwan has the largest semiconductor production in the world. Europe is suffering from this war in Ukraine. It suffers because of inflation. But imagine that there is a war between Taiwan and China?
Is the fact that Taiwan is the leading manufacturer of the world’s most advanced chips a deterrent?
The founder of TSMC said that if China considers economic stability, it does not go to war. But if a war, it will destroy the world economy.
The world knows that Taiwan’s semiconductor supply is not easy to replace. We don’t want a war. If the war, the economic impact will be very large. And Europe will suffer more.
It is because our policy is not equal with countries, with the same identity and we say to the international communist regime: a war. But even if there is, we are prepared.
The world didn’t know it, but for the last 70 years we have been alone in fighting this totalitarianism in China. Now more support from the world, because the world already knows the importance of Taiwan.
Is it because of receiving this support that you think Taiwan is ready? Why do you have the support of the United States?
This support has two parts. The first is military support. Most of our armed forces we bought from the United States. It is our greatest ally. The other part is the world with the same values as Taiwan, morally or otherwise, welcome. Because when Taiwan is strong, stronger, it is a signal for China to lessen the possibility of war. If Taiwan is weak or isolated, China will have an advantage over Taiwan. And it can decide when and how to make war.
How to seek this support? What specific support does Taiwan need?
The world needs Taiwan to participate in the UN I am not saying for Taiwan to regain the position it lost in 1979 at the UN. But more in practice: participating in some specialized organizations. For example, civilian. How many flights pass through our territory daily? If we do not have information, there may be a security risk.
It needs to participate in Interpol, in the fight against international crime. Taiwan has this capability, but can not get into the Interpol information system will be difficult. And there will be a hole for organized crime.
It is necessary to participate in climate change. Taiwan has cutting edge technology, but at the same time we take care of our environment. A project to achieve, we have until 2050, zero. Specialized companies have to open the door for us.
Do you believe it could happen in the near future?
sometimes it seems Mission Impossible, but here at our neighbor Instituto Camões, we hear: “man dreams, work is born”. Everything is possible for me, but we need to work. That’s the spirit of Taiwan.
For the last 70 years we have been alone. Who could have imagined that we would receive so much international support? Let’s get to our goal.
And what is that ultimate goal?
The objective is to maintain our democratic system and freedom. These are global and important values. We also have to develop the economy and make our society safer. We must also maintain our capacity for national defense, because we have a neighbor who is not rational. Any change in mainland China can us.
Is the principle “One country, two systems”, by Deng Xiaoping and thinker for Macau, still a possibility?
(laughs) Watch Hong Kong now. Do you still believe in the “One Country, Two Systems” principle? The communist regime talks nice and sometimes deceives people. Hong Kong is no longer a first case. It was the same with Tibet and then with Xinjiang. China’s cunning is how the king’s story goes naked. “One country, two systems” goes like this: The king is naked. Nobody believes in this system. We are the ones who know China best and we don’t take their word for it. We saw what you did to Hong Kong. Taiwan does not want to be a second Hong Kong. We already have an independent country from 1912 until now, much older than communist China. We don’t need the communist system. if [a China] he thinks the system is good, he could make his project for the people to decide. You don’t have the courage. It maintains power by military force.
Taiwan no longer had figures closer to Beijing. At that time the principle “One country, two systems” was a more concrete possibility…
The Taiwanese businessman is like everyone else. Everyone wants to do business with China. China has a giant market. At the same time, it has to ignore some flaw in that system and tolerate censorship [que faz] almost everywhere. But everything has a limit. The world no longer tolerates this censorship and this evil Chinese influence on the world. The world now arrives with a common value: democracy.
Xi Jinping is preparing to assume a third term and the desire to carry out a so-called “reunification” with Taiwan has been reiterated several times.
This voice of reunification is China’s propaganda to believe the people. When we talk about belonging, that something was later allowed to be protected from belonging, so that it ceased to belong. Taiwan never belonged to the Chinese communist regime. How to make a reunification? There are two independent regimes. It is not with a firearm in hand that we are said to meet. Marriage is not like that. Who uses a firearm for a wedding?
And if to use?
Whether to use support capability and defense need. That’s what Taiwan has been doing for the last 70 years. Preparing for a conflict with China.
Because there is a real risk. Nancy’s military exercises in response to the visit evident that a blockade of Taiwan is possible. Taiwan is an island and can be isolated…
The world is deceived by this term: “Island”. We can say “island” of Taiwan. It’s not easy to attack.
The Ukrainian war happened very fast. Between Russia and Ukraine everything is easy, easy to follow. But between Taiwan and China there is a strait. In this strait the waves are violent. In the story, tried to invade Taiwan, ships went. It’s not easy. If it were easy, China would have already attacked Taiwan. Not yet because a large-scale, very large-scale movement is required.
Technology has come a long way. And they say that China has more capacity to attack. But look: to cross such a violent sea, you need a lot of preparation. The mobilization of troops to pass the strait a month, and a month, with all the information and satellite technology, we will know. Before attacking, we already know. They have missiles. We also have missiles. This technology…we are ready. That is why we are confident that we will consolidate our democracy.
The only thing China can do is become more democratic. And so we can have an easier channel of dialogue. We have the desire and will to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait and in the region. But our will has a defense base. Therefore, we need a lot of support from the world, especially from Western countries with the same values.
Taiwan is not afraid of military intervention by China?
It was better to be afraid, wasn’t it? (laughs). But there really are no major recipients in civil society. For the world it is a serious situation, but we have been facing these threats for 70 years. It’s not news for us. necessarily be prepared.
Taiwan and Portugal have not had bilateral relations for 43 years. What specifically do you expect from Portugal?
I have been observing Portuguese foreign policy. Very supportive of Ukraine. Taiwan is with Portugal, and it also supports Ukraine. But if we study Portuguese politics well, we know that it never very clearly condemns another country. But we hope that we don’t have to get to the point of war in Taiwan. During this time we have to strengthen our cooperation.
Since ’79, until now, we have not signed any bilateral agreement. Our relationship needs to go.
We don’t do much business with Portugal. Last year, we reached 720 million in values. It is not much. But with Portugal’s capacity, we can do more.
One thing we can do: tourism. Before the pandemic, Portugal received 24 million tourists. And now it’s recovering. Taiwan too. It has a population of 24 million, but 16 million travel the world annually (before the pandemic). If we can work well, if we can reach many more Taiwanese tourists out of 16 million, Portugal’s tourism will benefit.
Let’s dream, then the work is born (laughs).