In the aftermath of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Taiwan, killing 10 people, the Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N., Geng Shuang, brought up children’s rights in a meeting. The topic of the earthquake in “China’s Taiwan” was raised by another speaker, causing anger in Taipei.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned China as “shameless” for using the earthquake as a tool to conduct psychological operations internationally. China expressed concern for the damage in Taiwan and offered condolences and aid, thanking the international community for their sympathy. However, Taiwan’s government has already thanked governments and leaders for their messages of concern and support, including the United States, despite the lack of diplomatic ties.
The ministry stated that China’s actions showed no goodwill towards Taiwan, using the earthquake as a means to further strain relations between the two countries. Taiwan asserted its independence while China claimed it as a part of its territory.
