TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is monitoring the situation in South Korea, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Monday.
Speaking before the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Lin said Taiwan's representative office in South Korea maintains communication with ruling and opposition parties to stay updated about political developments, CNA reported. He added that discussions within Taiwan have not resulted in any significant controversies in Taiwan-South Korea relations.
Taiwan and its regional allies like Japan and the Philippines are closely monitoring the situation, Lin said. He pointed to intertwined security interests given their location in the First Island Chain.
His comments come after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law last Tuesday night, claiming the opposition party was sympathizing with North Korea and anti-state activities. Yoon lifted the order six hours later.
In addition, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) instructed officials to assess the incident’s "potential risks and impact" on security, geopolitics, and economics in the region.
On Saturday, Yoon apologized to the nation in a televised speech and said he would “not avoid any legal or political responsibility." Later that day, he survived impeachment due to ruling party members boycotting the vote.