TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) announced on Friday (March 27) that Cameroon belittled Taiwan's status at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), forcing Taiwan to miss the event. U.S. lawmakers and global partners rallied in support of Taiwan's participation in global trade discussions following the diplomatic snub. This marks Taiwan's first absence from a WTO Ministerial Conference since joining the organization in 2001.
U.S. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart expressed alarm on Monday (March 23) over Cameroon's actions, highlighting China's diplomatic maneuvers. He stated that this incident was "another blatant example of Beijing's coercive tactics to deny Taiwan's meaningful participation," setting a dangerous precedent. Díaz-Balart emphasized Taiwan's critical role as an economic and security partner for the U.S. and other nations, pledging continued support for Taiwan's international engagement.
John Moolenaar, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna issued a joint statement on Wednesday (March 25). They criticized Cameroon's exclusion of Taiwan from the WTO meeting as another example of China's attempts to manipulate multilateral organizations. The statement noted that Taiwan's absence highlights the organization's weakened ability to address challenges and shape the future of global trade.
Former chair of the French National Assembly Taiwan Friendship Group Eric Bothorel retweeted a report from Le Figaro on Tuesday (March 24) that explicitly stated, "Taiwan is not a province of China." Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) expressed gratitude for the support from international friends, reaffirming Taiwan's commitment to working closely with like-minded members. Lin emphasized Taiwan's determination to defend its rights and dignity on the global stage. ◼