News Reference Material
Date: March 24, 2020
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued a response on March 24 regarding the unacceptable comments made by the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) on Taiwan-US cooperation on combating the COVID-19 epidemic. The MAC stated that Taiwan is not part of People's Republic of China (PRC); therefore, there is no such place so-called “Taiwan region (of mainland China)” in the world as the Mainland claimed. The Beijing authorities not only failed to recognize the existence of Republic of China (ROC), but also deliberately escalated confrontation over cooperation on combating the COVID-19 epidemic and made aimless claims. This was where the true source of confrontation with the people of Taiwan laid.
The MAC stressed that Taiwan has the right to cooperate with countries around the world in combating epidemic. It is capable and willing to contribute to the international community, including mainland China. Taiwan will never back down from intimidation by the other side of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) not only has disregarded the health rights and interests of Taiwan's 23 million people, obstructed Taiwan's participation in international organizations by every means, but has also stepped up its political and military threats against Taiwan recently. The MAC expresses stern dissatisfaction. None of these actions can cover up the global crisis caused by the Mainland’s failure of internal governance. Combating epidemic should see no political boundaries and the "one China principle" is not a prescription for health and safety.