Sir, – In his letter (“China and Irish politicians visiting Taiwan”, March 7th), China’s ambassador to Ireland takes the opportunity to dictate to the Irish people and our elected representatives what to think about Taiwan, which they call “China’s Taiwan Province”. He maintains that the Communist Party of China (CCP) is the sole political authority of both the People’s Republic of China and of Taiwan. The political facts on the ground indicate that the people of Taiwan elect their own government, and it is independent, by choice. Taiwan today operates as a free and open democracy, with its own elected government, military, currency and passport. Both Taiwan and Ireland have experienced periods of foreign rule in their histories – yet today both stand as independent democracies.

Source: The Irish Times March 10, 2026 18:01 UTC