MOFA: Taiwan and China Are Not Subordinate to Each Other; China Has No Right to Interfere in Taiwan President's Overseas Visits
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned China's Taiwan Affairs Office for its remarks on President Lai's upcoming visit to Eswatini, reiterating that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and Taiwan will not self-limit due to intimidation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 12:15
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 12:31 (16 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 01:10 (60h 38m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Yao-ju, Taipei, 16th) President Lai Ching-te will visit Eswatini, and China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) stated that "relevant countries should recognize the general trend." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemned the "absurd comments" by China's TAO today, reiterating that the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other. The overseas visits by Taiwan's president conform to international conventions, China has no right to interfere, and Taiwan will not impose self-limits due to intimidation or interference.
President Lai will visit the African ally, the Kingdom of Eswatini, from April 22 to 27 to attend the dual celebrations of the King of Eswatini's 40th anniversary of accession and his 58th birthday. Media reported that Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's TAO, reiterated the One-China principle in response, demanding that relevant countries recognize the general trend, correct their mistakes, and stand on the right side of history.
MOFA strongly condemned and rebutted the "absurd comments" of China's TAO through a press release this morning.
MOFA solemnly reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent sovereign state and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. The overseas visits by Taiwan's president are not only in line with international conventions but also normal, and China has no right to interfere. President Lai is the democratically elected head of state of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and malicious slander by China is absolutely unacceptable.
MOFA emphasized that Taiwan has the right to autonomously choose to associate and develop relationships with countries around the world, does not accept interference or suppression by any country for any reason, and will certainly not self-limit because of intimidation or interference. Even if the authoritarian government continues its expansion and escalates coercion, Taiwan will not back down but will only step into the world more bravely.
MOFA stated that China's brutal and barbaric suppression of Taiwan, its attempts to blockade Taiwan's diplomatic space, and its strangulation of Taiwan's international personality not only fail to help the healthy development of cross-strait relations but also harm the rights and interests of the Taiwanese people. It calls on the Beijing authorities to stop immediately and not to repeatedly act as a troublemaker in the international community and a destroyer of cross-strait relations. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150416
President Lai will visit the African ally, the Kingdom of Eswatini, from April 22 to 27 to attend the dual celebrations of the King of Eswatini's 40th anniversary of accession and his 58th birthday. Media reported that Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's TAO, reiterated the One-China principle in response, demanding that relevant countries recognize the general trend, correct their mistakes, and stand on the right side of history.
MOFA strongly condemned and rebutted the "absurd comments" of China's TAO through a press release this morning.
MOFA solemnly reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent sovereign state and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. The overseas visits by Taiwan's president are not only in line with international conventions but also normal, and China has no right to interfere. President Lai is the democratically elected head of state of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and malicious slander by China is absolutely unacceptable.
MOFA emphasized that Taiwan has the right to autonomously choose to associate and develop relationships with countries around the world, does not accept interference or suppression by any country for any reason, and will certainly not self-limit because of intimidation or interference. Even if the authoritarian government continues its expansion and escalates coercion, Taiwan will not back down but will only step into the world more bravely.
MOFA stated that China's brutal and barbaric suppression of Taiwan, its attempts to blockade Taiwan's diplomatic space, and its strangulation of Taiwan's international personality not only fail to help the healthy development of cross-strait relations but also harm the rights and interests of the Taiwanese people. It calls on the Beijing authorities to stop immediately and not to repeatedly act as a troublemaker in the international community and a destroyer of cross-strait relations. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150416