Taiwan is open to dialogue with China, president-elect William Lai (賴清德) told the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Tuesday, just days before he is to take office.
“I will not rule out dialogue with China on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefits and dignity,” Lai said in a prerecorded video, adding that dialogue should be conducted “with no preconditions.”
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has made similar appeals for official engagement with China, to no avail.
Photo: CNA
Beijing has insisted on Taipei accepting the so-called “1992 consensus” as a prerequisite for dialogue.
The “consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Lai, who is to be inaugurated on Monday next week, said that his administration “will work to safeguard the status quo” in the Taiwan Strait.
The people of Taiwan “stand at the forefront of the fight against authoritarian expansion,” as they face pressure from foreign disinformation, military threats and economic coercion, he said.
“Despite Beijing’s efforts, the people of Taiwan have rejected authoritarianism,” he said. “China’s coercion has only strengthened our resolve to remain democratic and free.”
In the face of those challenges, Taiwan must continue to bolster its defense capabilities and enhance its economic resilience, he said.
“Our economic strength is crucial... The free world must prevail in the global competition in critical technological fields,” Lai said, pledging to work toward making Taiwan a “hub of the global democratic technology alliance.”
He did not elaborate.
Tsai, who is to step down after serving two four-year terms, also addressed the summit in a separate prerecorded video in which she said: “The people of Taiwan are more determined than ever to safeguard democracy and freedom.”
Taiwanese have dealt with “much intensified threats and intimidation” from China on a daily basis “with resilience and courage,” Tsai said, accusing China of engaging in hacking, cyberattacks and military intrusions against Taiwan.
“Neither threats nor coercion will shake Taiwan’s resolve to engage with the world,” Tsai said. “Taiwan and its people stand ready to strengthen cooperation with democracies around the world in all areas where we share mutual interests.”
Partnerships Taiwan maintains with like-minded countries will be “the most effective defense of all,” she said.
Taiwan remains ready to share its best practices on countering authoritarian influence with its partners, she said, while underlining the country’s commitment to supporting democracies around the world.
The two-day summit, which ended yesterday, sought to bring together political, business and media leaders, as well as rights advocates to defend the values of freedom and democracy.
Other speakers who addressed the event included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
AIR DEFENSE: The Norwegian missile system has proved highly effective in Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the US has recommended it for Taiwan, an expert said The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Taiwan ordered from the US would be installed in strategically important positions in Taipei and New Taipei City to guard the region, the Ministry of National Defense said in statement yesterday. The air defense system would be deployed in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) and New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), the ministry said, adding that the systems could be delivered as soon as the end of this year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has previously said that three NASAMS would be sold to Taiwan. The weapons are part of the 17th US arms sale to
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
INSURRECTION: The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday. In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was working with gangs in Taiwan to develop a network of armed spies. Spies in Taiwan have on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country, and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organizations and obtaining sensitive information
BREAKTHROUGH: The US is making chips on par in yield and quality with Taiwan, despite people saying that it could not happen, the official said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has begun producing advanced 4-nanometer (nm) chips for US customers in Arizona, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, a milestone in the semiconductor efforts of the administration of US President Joe Biden. In November last year, the commerce department finalized a US$6.6 billion grant to TSMC’s US unit for semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. “For the first time ever in our country’s history, we are making leading edge 4-nanometer chips on American soil, American workers — on par in yield and quality with Taiwan,” Raimondo said, adding that production had begun in recent
RSS