《波士頓環球報》刊登駐波士頓辦事處處長廖朝宏投書
強調台灣選舉由台灣人民決定，「而非惡霸鄰居」
美國新英格蘭地區第一大報《波士頓環球報》（The Boston Globe）8月30日以「台灣不會屈服於中國的恫嚇威脅」（Taiwan will not bow to China’s intimidation）為標題刊登駐波士頓辦事處處長廖朝宏的投書。
廖處長的投書是回應《波士頓環球報》8月19日有關中國在台灣周邊舉行大規模軍演的報導。廖處長投書表示，中國以賴副總統出訪過境美國為藉口舉行軍演，中國非理性的挑釁行為不僅危害區域和平穩定，更對民主價值以及以規則為基礎的國際秩序構成威脅。
廖處長指出，中國近期持續升高對台經濟脅迫及灰色地帶戰術，目的即在干擾台灣2024年1月的總統大選。廖處長強調，中國應該舉行自己的民主選舉，而非干涉台灣的民主；台灣人民對自己的民主生活方式感到自豪，不會屈服於任何來自對岸的壓力。廖處長並引用外交部長吳釗燮的推特表示，「我們的選舉是由台灣人民來決定，而非惡霸鄰居。」
LETTERS
Taiwan
will not bow to China’s intimidation.
Updated August 30, 2023, 2:20 a.m.
In this image taken from video footage run by China's CCTV, a Chinese warship conducted drills in an area around Taiwan on Aug. 19. UNCREDITED/ASSOCIATED PRESS
China launched large-scale naval and air exercises Aug. 19 to threaten Taiwan in response to Vice President Lai Ching-te’s stopovers in the United States en route to one of our South American diplomatic allies, Paraguay (“Chinese military launches drills around Taiwan as a ‘warning’ after a top island official went to US,” BostonGlobe.com, Aug. 19). China’s irrational and provocative actions not only pose a risk to the peace and stability in the region but also threaten democratic values and the rules-based international order. Since last year, China has sent warplanes and naval vessels near Taiwan’s airspace and territorial waters almost daily to threaten and intimidate Taiwan. Recently, China has stepped up its economic coercion and gray zone activities toward Taiwan, aiming to interfere in Taiwan’s January 2024 presidential election China should hold its own democratic elections instead of meddling in Taiwan’s democracy. The Taiwanese people are proud of our democratic way of life and will not bow to any pressure from across the Taiwan Strait. As Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, tweeted recently, “It’s up to our citizens to decide, not the bully next door.”
Director General
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston
