TAIPEI (TAIWAN) – The Taiwan government said on Tuesday that it will not be intimidated by rogue Chinese officials and will go ahead and celebrate its national day around the world. This comes after Taipei said Beijing diplomats had tried to barge into a diplomatic event in Fiji.
Taiwan has alleged that in the altercation, a Taiwanese diplomat had to be hospitalised. But this has been denied by China.
The Pacific region is a matter of contest between Taiwan, which has diplomatic ties with four countries, and China. However, Taipei is yet to have ties with the island nation.
Taiwan officials said the Chinese diplomats tried to click photographs of an event held to mark the Taiwan National Day at a hotel to see who all took part in it. In the altercation that ensued, both people on both sides were injured.
Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said the island was a “peace-loving country” and it invited people to events around the world as part of its Oct. 10 national day, commemorating the founding of the Republic of China, its official name.
“Going forward we will continue to hold national day receptions,” she said. “This will not change.”
She said China can spread canards but Taiwan should not pay heed to it.
“The reality is this year we had 108 offices hold national day events in different ways, inviting the world to celebrate our birthday.”
Premier Su Tseng-chang said the world has to take a look at at what China was capable of, adding that what Beijing did was a “barbaric act”.
“China’s officials posted overseas are acting like hooligans; beating people is not acceptable. We sternly condemn this,” he told reporters.