Taiwan’s relations with China must be decided by the will of the people and peace must be based on “dignity”, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, said “reunification” with the island is inevitable.
Quick Read
- Tsai Ing-wen’s Response to Xi Jinping: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that Taiwan’s relations with China must be determined by the will of the people and that peace must be based on dignity. This statement came in response to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s assertion that “reunification” with Taiwan is inevitable.
- China’s Increased Military Pressure: China has been escalating military activities to assert sovereignty claims over Taiwan, which is a democratically governed island. Taiwan is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13.
- Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve Address: Xi’s recent address took a firmer stance compared to the previous year, emphasizing a common family bond across the Taiwan Strait.
- Tsai Ing-wen on Democracy and China Relations: Tsai highlighted that any decision regarding Taiwan’s relationship with China should be made democratically, reflecting the joint will of the Taiwanese people. She urged China to respect the outcome of Taiwan’s elections and shared the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the strait.
- Taiwan’s Defence Priorities: The Taiwanese government, under Tsai, has prioritized strengthening and modernizing the island’s defenses, including developing indigenous submarines. Tsai likened this to a household securing its home with locks, seeking safety without provoking neighbors.
- Election Interference Concerns: Tsai warned of potential Chinese interference in the upcoming elections through various means, including misinformation and economic or military pressure. She urged vigilance against such tactics.
- Trade and Economic Interactions: Following accusations from China regarding trade barriers and the ending of certain tariff cuts, Tsai stressed the need for Taiwan’s companies to diversify globally. She emphasized that trade and economic exchanges should not be used as political tools.
- China’s Stance on Lai Ching-te: China has expressed particular opposition to Vice President Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for president, labeling him a separatist. Both the DPP and the opposition Kuomintang party maintain that Taiwan’s future should be decided by its people.
- Tsai’s Tenure: Tsai is in her second term as president and is ineligible to run again. She will step down in May when the next president is inaugurated.
Reuters has the story:
Taiwan President says ties with China must be decided by will of the people
Newslooks- TAIPEI, Jan 1 (Reuters) –
Taiwan’s relations with China must be decided by the will of the people and peace must be based on “dignity”, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, said “reunification” with the island is inevitable.
China has been ramping up military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over democratically governed Taiwan, which on Jan. 13 holds presidential and parliamentary elections.
Xi’s comments, in a New Year’s Eve address, struck a stronger tone than the previous year where he said only that people on either side of the Taiwan Strait are “members of one and the same family”.
Asked about Xi’s speech at a New Year’s press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai said the most important principle on what course to follow on relations with China was democracy.
“This is taking the joint will of Taiwan’s people to make a decision. After all, we are a democratic country,” she said.
China should respect the outcome of Taiwan’s election and it is the responsibility of both sides to maintain peace and stability in the strait, Tsai added.
China has cast the election as a choice between war and peace and has refused multiple offers of talks by Tsai, believing she is a separatist.
Tsai has made bolstering and modernising Taiwan’s defences a priority, including pushing an indigenous submarine programme.
“Everyone’s home has locks on them, which is not to provoke the neighbours next door but to make yourself safer. This is the same for the doors to the country. Taiwan’s people want peace, but we want peace with dignity,” she said.
Taiwan’s government has repeatedly warned China is trying to interfere in the election, whether by using fake news or military or trade pressure, and Tsai said she hoped people could be on alert for this.
After China accused Taiwan of erecting trade barriers and ended some tariff cuts for the island, China last week threatened further economic measures.
Tsai said Taiwan’s companies must look globally and diversify.
“This is the correct path, rather than going back to the path of relying on China, especially as in China’s unstable market there is unpredictable risk,” she said.
“We have always welcomed healthy, orderly interactions across the strait, but trade and economic exchanges cannot become a political tool.”
China has taken particular exception to current Vice President Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate for Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Party (DPP) and who is leading in opinion polls by varying margins, saying he is also a dangerous separatist.
Both the DPP and Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang say only the island’s people can decide their future.
Tsai cannot stand again after two terms in office. She will step down in May when the next president is sworn in.
