Taiwan MOFA: Taiwan Upholds Peace and Stability; China is the Source of Instability Changing the Status Quo
In response to China's backlash against President Lai Ching-te's remarks on 'defending the status quo of the Republic of China,' Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a press conference in Taipei on the 19th, issuing a five-point statement in rebuttal. Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized that Taiwan is a guardian of peace, while China is the source of regional instability attempting to mislead the international community. He also reiterated that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other and that Taiwan-US cooperation is key to regional stability.
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- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 14:33
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President Lai Ching-te's mention of defending the status quo of the Republic of China and that there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue has triggered a backlash from China. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today made a five-point reiteration, emphasizing that Taiwan is a guardian of peace and stability, while China is the root cause of regional instability and of changing the status quo, and accused China of using various false narratives to shirk responsibility and confuse the international community.
After the 'Trump-Xi meeting,' President Lai Ching-te mentioned defending the status quo of the Republic of China and that there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue in a Facebook post. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated the 'One China' principle at a regular press conference on the 18th and claimed that the Lai presidential authorities' attempt to promote the 'internationalization' of the Taiwan issue makes them a destroyer of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
At a regular press conference this morning, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei described the Chinese side's remarks as 'Taiwan-related fallacies' and 'intimidating rhetoric,' and stressed that 'China is the source of regional instability and the chaos of changing the status quo.'
Hsiao Kuang-wei mentioned that MOFA reiterates five points: First, Taiwan is the guardian of the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. Second, China is the root cause of regional instability and of changing the status quo. Third, in defending the status quo of the Republic of China, there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue. Fourth, Taiwan-US security cooperation and military sales are key elements for maintaining regional peace and stability. Fifth, Taiwan is where global core interests lie, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded.
Hsiao Kuang-wei explained that in recent years, China has continued to expand its military activities in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and has imposed various military, political, and economic pressures on neighboring countries. It even intends to project its military power globally, its ambitions are glaringly obvious. All these actions prove to the international community that China is the biggest risk to regional instability and the source of chaos in changing the status quo, using various false narratives to shirk responsibility and confuse the international community.
Hsiao Kuang-wei further pointed out that this is not just a problem that Taiwan faces alone, but a common security challenge for the entire first island chain and the Indo-Pacific region, and China is the biggest source of chaos that undermines regional peace and stability and changes the status quo.
Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. The Republic of China, Taiwan, is already a sovereign and independent democratic country; there is no issue of independence. Taiwan is committed to maintaining the status quo, ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and not being threatened or undermined by authoritarian dictatorships. The one truly escalating tensions and conflict in the Taiwan Strait and the region right now is China, with its unilateral political and economic pressure, as well as various grey-zone and military harassment threats.
The media also raised concerns about a fact sheet released by the White House on the 17th, which stated that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the US and China should establish a 'constructive and strategically stable relationship' on a fair and reciprocal basis.
In response, Hsiao Kuang-wei replied that MOFA continues to closely monitor US-China interactions. The US government, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly reiterated that the long-standing US policy toward Taiwan has not changed. Taiwan will continue to maintain close communication and cooperation with the US side, steadily deepen Taiwan-US relations, ensure the interests and well-being of the peoples of both sides, and jointly maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the region.
After the 'Trump-Xi meeting,' President Lai Ching-te mentioned defending the status quo of the Republic of China and that there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue in a Facebook post. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated the 'One China' principle at a regular press conference on the 18th and claimed that the Lai presidential authorities' attempt to promote the 'internationalization' of the Taiwan issue makes them a destroyer of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
At a regular press conference this morning, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei described the Chinese side's remarks as 'Taiwan-related fallacies' and 'intimidating rhetoric,' and stressed that 'China is the source of regional instability and the chaos of changing the status quo.'
Hsiao Kuang-wei mentioned that MOFA reiterates five points: First, Taiwan is the guardian of the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. Second, China is the root cause of regional instability and of changing the status quo. Third, in defending the status quo of the Republic of China, there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue. Fourth, Taiwan-US security cooperation and military sales are key elements for maintaining regional peace and stability. Fifth, Taiwan is where global core interests lie, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded.
Hsiao Kuang-wei explained that in recent years, China has continued to expand its military activities in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and has imposed various military, political, and economic pressures on neighboring countries. It even intends to project its military power globally, its ambitions are glaringly obvious. All these actions prove to the international community that China is the biggest risk to regional instability and the source of chaos in changing the status quo, using various false narratives to shirk responsibility and confuse the international community.
Hsiao Kuang-wei further pointed out that this is not just a problem that Taiwan faces alone, but a common security challenge for the entire first island chain and the Indo-Pacific region, and China is the biggest source of chaos that undermines regional peace and stability and changes the status quo.
Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. The Republic of China, Taiwan, is already a sovereign and independent democratic country; there is no issue of independence. Taiwan is committed to maintaining the status quo, ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and not being threatened or undermined by authoritarian dictatorships. The one truly escalating tensions and conflict in the Taiwan Strait and the region right now is China, with its unilateral political and economic pressure, as well as various grey-zone and military harassment threats.
The media also raised concerns about a fact sheet released by the White House on the 17th, which stated that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the US and China should establish a 'constructive and strategically stable relationship' on a fair and reciprocal basis.
In response, Hsiao Kuang-wei replied that MOFA continues to closely monitor US-China interactions. The US government, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly reiterated that the long-standing US policy toward Taiwan has not changed. Taiwan will continue to maintain close communication and cooperation with the US side, steadily deepen Taiwan-US relations, ensure the interests and well-being of the peoples of both sides, and jointly maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the region.