The AP Interview: Taiwan, eyeing Ukraine, seeks aid

(20 Jan 2023)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4415841
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, DC - 20 January 2023
1. Mid, Taiwan's envoy to the United States Bi-khim Hsiao greets Associated Press' Ellen Knickmeyer  
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press:
"Thank you so much for sitting down with the Associated Press. I know that there have been lots of parallels drawn between the situation in Ukraine and the situation in Taiwan. But as you watch events in Ukraine, what and as other Taiwanese leaders watch events in Ukraine, what what lessons are you drawing there from that for Taiwan?"
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan Envoy: ++INCLUDES CUTAWAYS++
"Everything we're doing now is to prevent the pain and suffering of the tragedy of Ukraine from being repeated in our scenario in Taiwan. So ultimately, we seek to deter the use of military force. But in a worst case scenario, we understand that we have to be better prepared so as to fortify our defenses and to prevent an attack from harming the people of Taiwan. So we are watching closely. There are a lot of sympathies for the Ukrainian people in Taiwan. We have sent a lot of humanitarian aid and support from our people to the Ukrainian people. From a defense and security perspective, we are learning that there is is much to be done in terms of countering an asymmetric situation. The Ukrainian resistance has proved to be very resilient, which is rather inspiring for many. And we are also targeting our own defense reforms in a way that will also enable our defenses to be resilient and strong in an asymmetric way. I think it's critical to send a consistent message to the authoritarian leaders that force is never an option. Force will not be tolerated. The use of force will be met by a strong international response, including consequences on the party that initiates such unprovoked military force."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press:
"The US for decades now has had the policy of strategic ambiguity, where it leaves ambiguous, whether its military would respond if China were to attack Taiwan. Is that still serving the purpose that it needs to?"
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan Envoy:
"It has preserved peace. The status quo has enabled a situation where we have had significant political differences across the Taiwan Strait, and yet we can coexist in a peaceful way. In terms of international assistance for Taiwan, of course, the people of Taiwan welcome any help possible in maintaining the peace and stability that serves our interests. But at the same time, we also understand that we have to be willing to invest in our own defenses if we are to expect anyone to help us."
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press:
"Should House Speaker Kevin McCarthy visit Taiwan while he's in office as House speaker?"
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan Envoy:
++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Taiwan's top envoy to the U.S. on Friday said her island has learned lessons from Ukraine's war that will help it deter an attack by China or defend itself if invaded.  Among the lessons: doing more to prepare military reservists and civilians for the kind of all-of-society fight that Ukrainians are waging against Russia.
"Everything we're doing now is to prevent the pain and suffering of the tragedy of Ukraine from being repeated in our scenario in Taiwan," Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan's envoy to Washington, told The Associated Press.
"So ultimately, we seek to deter the use of military force. But in a worst-case scenario, we understand that we have to be better prepared," Hsiao said.