Travel disruptions:
The inclusion of Taiwan on documents for Chinese tourists in Laos creates the wrong impression that Taiwan is part of China, the foreign ministry said.
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By Wu Zheyu and Esme Yeh
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday condemned the Chinese delegation to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) for claiming that Beijing’s “One China” principle is recognised by the majority of the international community.
Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), said at a general assembly in Paraguay on Friday that 183 countries have diplomatic ties with China based on the “one China” principle and that “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.”
In Taipei, the ministry reiterated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation called the Republic of China and does not belong to the People’s Republic of China.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan, a modern country that seeks to uphold a democratic system while respecting human rights and the rule of law, the ministry said in a press release.
He said that this is a situation that is commonly recognized by the international community.
Any distorted discourse denying Taiwan’s sovereignty cannot change Taiwan’s political status, the ministry said, adding that China’s false statements threaten cross-strait stability and disrupt the international order.
The ministry called on the international community not to support China’s “malicious rhetoric” aimed at undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Taiwan is on the front line of defending democracy and faces Chinese propaganda and military threats, he said, adding that the country will strengthen cooperation with other democracies to contain China’s authoritarian expansion and safeguard peace and prosperity on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In other news, the ministry said on Friday that a visa waiver program for Chinese tourists announced by the Lao government contains elements that create the false impression that Taiwan is part of China.
Chinese tourists visiting the country can visit visa-free for up to 15 days as part of a group tour, provided their itinerary is approved by the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, according to a document issued by the Lao government on Wednesday.
The policy will take effect from tomorrow until Dec. 31 and also applies to tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the document.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its inclusion of Taiwan in the tourism promotion policy came under pressure from Beijing and was aimed at creating the false impression that Taiwan was part of China.
Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and Laos should not cooperate with China to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and international status, the ministry said, adding that it had conveyed its position to the Lao government through Taiwan’s mission in Vietnam.
Despite this policy, Taiwanese tourists visiting Laos are still required to obtain a visa on arrival, as stipulated in the document.
The ministry said there were no changes to rules for Taiwanese people who want to visit Laos and obtain e-visas or visas on arrival.
Additional reporting by CNA
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