Ministry blasts Putin’s remarks about TaiwanBy Yang Cheng-yu and Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin for disparaging Taiwan’s sovereignty by saying that Taiwan issues are “China’s internal affairs.”The ministry strongly condemned Putin’s “false” remarks that “undermined the sovereignty of the Republic of China,” ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) told a news briefing. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou speaks at a news briefing in Taipei yesterday. Screengrab from the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s virtual news conferenceOu said that Taiwanese elect their government in free and fair elections, adding that only the government in Taipei can represent Taiwan. The ministry also thanked the US for reiterating that it would ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself and deter aggression. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the remarks in an interview with the US’ Public Broadcasting Service on Tuesday.

Source: Taipei Times June 16, 2022 22:00 UTC