-
By Fion Khan / Staff writer
China’s military buildup and threats toward Taiwan are real and Taipei would continue to enhance its defenses with US support, Representative to the US Alexander Yui said today in an interview with Newsmax’s Greta van Susteren.
Beijing has spent decades trying to pressure Taiwan into submission despite never having ruled the nation, Yui said.
“They’ve always been ever since trying to, you know, huffing and puffing and trying to bring our house down by taking Taiwan as their own,” he said. “They never ruled Taiwan and they never administered Taiwan.”
Photo: Screen grab from Newsmax’s YouTube channel
Taiwan’s democratic system poses a challenge to the Chinese Communist Party because it offers “a very good alternative to the autocratic way of government in China,” he said.
While Taiwan worries about the possibility of an invasion, it is determined to resist, Yui said.
“We are, we want to keep our way of life as is, and we will not budge,” he said.
While Taiwan sits close to China, an invasion would be difficult because of the geographic barriers and Taiwan’s military preparations, Yui said.
China has been doing “the biggest military buildup in peacetime history,” he said, adding that Beijing’s ambitions extend beyond Taiwan and into the broader Indo-Pacific region.
He also praised US military support for Taiwan, saying that US President Donald Trump has overseen billions of US dollars in arms sales to Taipei.
“We believe in peace through strength,” Yui said. “A stronger Taiwan actually lessens the chances for the Chinese to be able to attack Taiwan.”
Taiwan is modernizing its military with a focus on asymmetric warfare and uncrewed systems, lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, he said.
Yui also welcomed recent talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
Communication between the two leaders could help avoid misunderstandings, he said, adding that the US’ position on Taiwan remains unchanged.