MAC Press Release No. 017
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued the following press release today (April 8, 2023) to solemnly deplore and protest against the combat readiness patrols and military exercises conducted around Taiwan by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the pretext of President Tsai Ing-wen's transit visit through the United States (US). The CCP's relentless military intimidation against Taiwan has undermined cross-Strait and regional peace and stability. In the face of these threats, Taiwan will not back down or give in, nor will we make provocations or act rashly. The public in Taiwan can be reassured that the government has been closely monitoring the situation throughout the CCP’s drills. Our government pledges to uphold the principle of "not escalating conflict or provoking disputes" as we remain on high alert and handle matters rationally and appropriately to safeguard our national security.
The MAC emphasized that President Tsai's visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies and transits through the US are a long-standing practice. Having face-to-face exchanges and communication with the US and other friendly countries is conducive to the advancement of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. The MAC called on the CCP to not overreact, exercise self-restraint, and avoid miscalculations that would escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait or the region and undermine cross-Strait relations.
The MAC indicated that “the two sides across the Taiwan Strait not subordinate to each other” is not only an objective status quo and a fact but a firm belief of the Taiwanese people; no amount of CCP coercion can change this. The government is committed to safeguarding our national sovereignty, democracy, and freedom. We stand firmly on the "Four Commitments" and pledge to strengthen our "Four Resiliences." Taiwan will continue to enhance our self-defense capabilities and cooperate closely with like-minded democracies to jointly counter the expansion of authoritarianism and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region.