Taiwan said at Tuesday that it hopes the people of Iran can soon enjoy freedom and democracy. The statement came as tensions rise following U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said it supports the international community’s efforts to help the Iranian people pursue “freedom, democracy and human rights.” Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei also condemned what he called Iran’s recent “indiscriminate military attacks,” referring to reported missile and drone strikes on Gulf countries including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The comments highlight Taiwan’s growing alignment with the United States and Israel. Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu told lawmakers that both countries are allies of Taiwan and that their goal is to “eliminate terrorism”.
Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic ties with either the United States or Israel. However, Washington is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and main arms supplier. Taiwan sees Israel as a fellow democracy facing security threats. After the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza that followed, Taiwan voiced strong support for Israel and stepped up engagement.
