Taiwan says it hopes Iran's people can soon enjoy freedom and democracy

Taiwan supports the international community's efforts to help Iran's people pursue freedom and democracy and hopes that they can enjoy these things soon, the island's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, offering its backing to the U.S. and Israel.



Taiwanese leaders, including President Lai Ching-te, have drawn parallels between Israel's security situation and Taiwan's own, given the stepped-up military pressure that the Chinese-claimed island has faced from Beijing in recent years.



Taiwan views Israel as an important democratic partner and offered strong support to the country after the October 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel and subsequent war in Gaza. Since then, there has been an increased level of engagement.



Asked whether Taiwan's government supported the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said that Taiwan is a member of the international democratic community.



"We support the international community's efforts to help the Iranian people pursue freedom and democracy and we hope the Iranian people can soon enjoy freedom, democracy and human rights," he said.