Digital Desk: Taiwan and India both lie on the frontlines of authoritarian
growth, according to de-facto ambassador Baushuan Ger of Taipei, and China's
current focus on the Taiwan Strait doesn't imply it will lessen its attention
to the Indian Ocean.
If China's willful disrespect for democratic ideals and flagrant
violation of international law go unchecked, other free and law-abiding nations
will suffer in the long run, Ger warned in an exclusive interview.
Since Speaker Newt
Gingrich travelled to Taiwan in 1997, Speaker Pelosi is the first US House
Speaker to make a foreign trip in the past 25 years. This not only highlights
the US Congress' strong support for Taiwan-US relations but also reiterates the
US's staunch commitment to Taiwan.
Taiwan and its people
have shown Speaker Pelosi unwavering support and gratitude for her historic
visit, which has helped to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Taiwan is
an actual member of the world community of democracies. Additionally, the visit
is significant in that it aids Taiwan in regaining much-needed confidence as it
works hard to broaden and deepen its interaction with other nations who share
its values.
During her visit to
Taiwan, Speaker Pelosi stated, "The world faces a choice between democracy
and authoritarianism. The United States' commitment to upholding democracy both
here in Taiwan and throughout the world is unwavering.
Democracy "dies
in darkness," as the Washington Post's tagline puts it. Without a doubt,
democracy only survives and grows in the open. Given China's ongoing use of
economic pressure and military intimidation against Taiwan, other free and
law-abiding nations will eventually suffer alongside Taiwan if fellow
democratic nations choose to remain silent about China's flagrant disregard for
democratic principles and violations of international law.
Some analysts may believe that China's focus on the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea will cause it to pay less attention to the Indian Ocean, allowing India to feel secure in maintaining the temporary peace with China. I must disagree. Consider the year 2020, the year of the Galwan Valley conflict on the Indo-China border. China was neither more nor less concerned about its eastern frontier at that time.
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