TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's sovereignty is an undeniable fact, said Benito Liao (廖志賢), the country’s representative to Brazil, in an interview with Oeste Magazine published Saturday.

Beijing’s demand that other countries reaffirm the “one China” principle reveals its insecurity, Liao said. The Chinese Communist Party wants the world to accept that there is one China and that Taiwan is part of China “but that’s not true, because there is China and there is Taiwan,” he said.

In the face of mounting Chinese threats, Liao said Taiwan sees safeguarding democracy as “an ongoing commitment.” He said international cooperation is key to strengthening the nation’s position and countering “external pressures.” He pointed out that more European countries are eager to partner with Taiwan. 

The diplomat said Taiwan proves that democracy can thrive despite authoritarian threats. He also praised Taiwanese for their unwavering “determination to preserve freedom, democracy, and sovereignty.”

Liao’s comments come as China uses legal terminology to legitimize its claim over Taiwan. Seventy countries back China’s authority over Taiwan and its efforts to achieve so-called unification via joint statements. The growing number of countries backing China could “play a decisive role” in assessing the legitimacy of any act of aggression toward Taiwan, according to an Economist report.

Taiwan identified this “legal warfare” as a part of Beijing’s misinformation campaign to undermine its sovereignty.