【中英聲明全文】堅守民主防線！台外長吳釗燮宣布與吉里巴斯斷交

吳釗燮宣布與吉里巴斯斷交 終止雙邊合作計畫

【新唐人亞太台 2019 年 09 月 20 日訊】繼16日外交部宣布與索羅門斷交後，今又與南太平洋另一友邦吉里巴終止外交關係，全面停止雙邊合作計畫，並立即撤離大使館、技術團及衛生中心人員，吳釗燮表示，吉國政府不顧我國對吉國多年來的多方協助與情誼，感到遺憾並予以強烈譴責。

外交部長吳釗燮今(20日)下午舉行國際記者會，宣布與吉里巴斯斷交。吳釗燮表示，吉國總統馬茂自2016年上任後，與中國有經常性往來互動，近期吉國總統馬茂並曾向我國索求高額贈款以購買民航客機，儘管我國願意協助吉國發展相關建設，我方因此建議以優惠商業貸款方式協助，但不為吉國接受，因此以援助不符合相關法規為由轉投中國懷抱。

總統蔡英文表示，對於吉里巴斯政府所做的決定，我們非常遺憾。選擇離開台灣這樣一個真誠的朋友，去當中國(中共)的棋子，絕對是一個很大的錯誤。

我要代表中華民國台灣，堅定告訴中國(中共)，對於「一國兩制」，我們的答案只有三個字：「不可能」。這些惡霸式的壓迫，不會讓台灣人放棄堅持。我也要告訴台灣人民，如果我們在這裡放棄，世世代代的台灣人就不再有民主、自由、主權，我們將一無所有。

外交部長吳釗燮聲明 中英全文：

吉里巴斯共和國政府本（20）日正式通知我方，與我國斷絕外交關係。對吉國政府不顧多年來中華民國（臺灣）政府的多方協助與情誼，我方至感遺憾並予強力譴責。政府也宣布，自即日起中止與吉里巴斯共和國的外交關係，全面停止雙邊合作計畫，並立即撤離大使館、技術團及衛生中心人員。我方也要求吉國立即撤離其政府駐臺人員。

吉里巴斯馬茂總統及執政黨部份人士一直對中國存有幻想，馬茂總統於2016年上臺後仍與中國有經常性互動。近來，中國政府也藉由漁業公司或以其他商業投資為藉口，長駐吉國，滲透吉國政界並擴展其影響力。近期馬茂總統更曾向我索求高額贈款以購買民航客機，我雖願協助吉國發展嘉惠人民的民生建設，但由於援贈營利用途的商用民航機並不符合我「國際合作發展法」的立法精神，政府在考量我國的財政能力後，建議以優惠商業貸款方式協助，但不為吉方接受。我方情資顯示，中國政府已承諾提供贈款供吉國採購多架民航機與商用渡輪等，誘使吉國外交轉向。

中國政府接續策動我國友邦與我斷交，最主要目的，就是藉打壓並限縮臺灣國際空間，逼迫臺灣人民接受「一國兩制」，接受中國為臺灣在國際上的宗主國，最終完全消滅臺灣主權。但絕大多數臺灣人民已經明確表達，我們絕不接受「一國兩制」，政府會更加堅定國家主權立場，我們不會在中國政府外交攻勢下，在主權立場上有任何退讓。政府再次強調，中國一再打壓我國際空間，並不會改變臺灣存在的事實，也無法嚇阻臺灣人民堅持追求民主自由的生活方式。政府除了努力維繫與其他邦交國的關係，也會持續開拓與友好民主國家的關係，並且以有意義貢獻的方式，在國際社會上爭取更多的友誼與支持。

我們再次強調，中華民國（臺灣）是一個民主的主權獨立國家，臺灣人民以自由選擇自己的國家元首和國會的方式來彰顯主權地位，臺灣不是中華人民共和國的一省，中華人民共和國政府也從未在臺灣統治過任何一天，這客觀明確的事實，不因中國對臺灣的霸凌而改變。相反的，中國政府在國際上壓迫臺灣，只會堅定臺灣人民的主權意志，臺灣人民絕不會向中國政府低頭。

中國政府藉由外交事件製造臺灣國內輿論、影響我國總統及立委選舉、破壞我國民主程序的意圖極為明確。對中國政府這種做法，我們呼籲所有民主國家，共同表達嚴厲譴責，並認清中國威權政府的目標，就是要摧毀民主體制，一步步擴張威權主義。臺灣位在民主國家最前線，我們會堅定守住這道民主防線，鞏固我們的民主體制，不會讓中國操弄我們的選舉結果，也不會讓中國決定臺灣人民的前途。

The government of the Republic of Kiribati officially notified our government on September 20 that it is terminating diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). The R.O.C. government deeply regrets and strongly condemns the Kiribati government’s decision, which disregards the multifaceted assistance and sincere friendship extended by Taiwan to Kiribati over the years. The R.O.C. government hereby declares that it is terminating diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kiribati effective immediately, ending all bilateral cooperative projects, and recalling the staff of its Embassy, technical mission, and medical mission stationed in Kiribati. The government also demands that Kiribati immediately recall its government personnel from Taiwan.

Kiribati President Taneti Mamau and certain members of the ruling party have long entertained highly unrealistic expectations regarding China and have engaged in frequent exchanges with China since President Mamau took office in 2016. Recently, the Chinese government has taken advantage of fisheries and other commercial investments to establish a presence in Kiribati, penetrating political circles and extending its influence. President Mamau has also requested massive financial assistance from Taiwan to purchase commercial airplanes. While Taiwan is willing to assist Kiribati in developing civil infrastructure for the benefit of its people, aid for the acquisition of airplanes for commercial purposes is not consistent with the spirit of Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Act. The R.O.C. government, therefore, after assessing Taiwan’s financial capabilities, suggested assistance in the form of a preferential commercial loan, but this was rejected by Kiribati, which insisted that all the necessary funds be provided in the form of donation. According to information obtained by Taiwan, the Chinese government has already promised to provide full funds for the procurement of several airplanes and commercial ferries, thus luring Kiribati into switching diplomatic relations.

The main goal driving the Chinese government’s continued campaign to push Taiwan’s allies to sever diplomatic relations is to suppress and reduce Taiwan’s international presence, thereby forcing the Taiwanese people to accept the “one country, two systems” framework and recognize China as its suzerain in the international community, and thus to ultimately destroy Taiwan’s sovereignty. But the great majority of the Taiwanese people have already expressed their absolute rejection of the “one country, two systems” framework. The R.O.C. government will stand firm in upholding Taiwan’s sovereignty, making no concessions with regard to its sovereignty in the face of China’s diplomatic assaults. The government once again emphasizes that China’s suppression of Taiwan in the international arena cannot change the indisputable fact of Taiwan’s existence, nor can it coerce the Taiwanese people into abandoning their democratic and free way of life. The government will resolutely maintain relations with other allies, strengthen ties with friendly democratic countries, and continue to cultivate further goodwill and support through meaningful contributions to the world community.

The government reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a democratic, independent and sovereign nation. Through the free election of their head of state and parliamentarians, the people of Taiwan demonstrate their sovereignty. Taiwan is not a province of the PRC, and the PRC has never ruled over Taiwan for even a single day. This objective fact cannot be changed by China’s intimidation of Taiwan. On the contrary, China’s international pressure will only consolidate the Taiwanese people’s determination never to capitulate to the Chinese government.

It is blatantly obvious that the Chinese government, by creating these diplomatic incidents, seeks to manipulate public opinion in Taiwan, influence Taiwan’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections, and undermine its democratic processes. Taiwan urges all democratic nations to jointly condemn the Chinese government’s actions in the strongest possible terms and bear in mind that the goal of the Chinese authoritarian government is to destroy democratic systems and gradually expand its brand of authoritarianism. Taiwan is at the frontlines for democracy; Taiwan will staunchly hold this defensive line and reinforce its democratic institutions. Taiwan will neither let China manipulate the outcomes of Taiwan’s elections nor allow the PRC to decide the future of the Taiwanese people.