Taiwan FM condemns political violence after Charlie Kirk's death

Taipei, Sept. 14 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) took to social media Sunday to condemn political violence, calling the death of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during a campus event in the United States, "a loss for democratic society."

In a Facebook post, Lin, who is visiting Europe, said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic shooting of American opinion leader Charlie Kirk, while he was engaging in debates on campus. The suspect has since been apprehended."

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "strongly condemns all forms of political violence. I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Kirk's wife and family," he added.

Lin described Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, as a promising young leader "who courageously engaged with different communities and people of differing views."

He also noted that Kirk had publicly expressed support for Taiwan in the past. "His sudden passing is a loss for democracy," Lin said.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), secretary-general of the National Security Council, have also mourned Kirk's death on social media in recent days.

"Shocked to see the news of Charlie Kirk's assassination," Hsiao, who served as Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the U.S. from 2020 to 2023, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.

Hsiao said Taiwanese, like Americans, see "university campuses as safe places for learning, free speech, and debate," noting that Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

"Different views can be argued, but violence must not be tolerated, on campus or anywhere," she added.

Meanwhile, Wu, who was Taiwan's foreign minister until May 2024, called Kirk's killing a "terrible tragedy."

"My sincere condolences to his family and millions of Americans, and people worldwide, who loved him dearly," Wu wrote on X.

The death of Kirk, a prominent voice in the MAGA movement within the Republican Party and a strong supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has garnered worldwide attention.