Fri, Apr 07, 2023 page3

• Tsai-McCarthy meeting bolsters Taiwan-US ties, lawmakers say

  CHINESE THREAT: The government must assess the potential impact of the Tsai-McCarthy meeting on cross-strait relations, the KMT caucus whip said

  • By Jason Pan / Staff reporter, wth CNA
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  The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday touted President Tsai Ing-wen’s successful trip abroad, including her meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers.

  “We want to thank the many people and organizations that extended a warm reception during [Tsai’s visit] to the US and Latin America,” DPP caucus director Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) told a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.

  “However, China tried to disrupt [Tsai’s trip] by mobilizing protests, advertising and paying people to insult Tsai and our nation, and announcing military drills in the Taiwan Strait. We condemn such actions by China,” Cheng said.

  

  Democratic Progressive Party caucus director Cheng Yun-peng, third right, along with other DPP lawmakers, pose for a photograph while holding up placards at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said that Tsai received the highest level of reception in the US for a Taiwanese leader in more than four decades.

  “It has very important implications, that both countries are democratic partners working together, and that Taiwan is not alone in facing external threats,” Wang said.

  “This US trip has pushed past the boundaries laid down by China, which has persistently tried to suppress Taiwan and block its participation on the world stage,” he said.

  “Tsai’s successful visit sends a strong message — that no other nation has the right to obstruct the enhanced interaction between the governments of Taiwan and the US,” he added.

  “The world’s attention is now on Taiwan, angering the Chinese government, which continues to intimidate [Taiwan] through military maneuvers and by threatening US congressional members,” DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) said.

  Not only DPP legislators, but also lawmakers from the New Power Party and Taiwan People’s Party joined Tsai’s delegation in visiting the US, DPP Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政).

  The only party not represented on the trip was the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), he added.

  “Tsai exuded confidence and trust on this trip, and the US must be quite happy, paving the way for closer engagement while avoiding unnecessary tensions,” he said.

  “We have made a lot of progress in boosting Taiwan-US relations, and President Tsai has played an important role in all this. Her efforts these past few years have gained the trust of US leaders, assuring them that Taiwan is not a ‘troublemaker,’ but is a reliable and trustworthy partner,” Lo said.

  DPP Legislator-a-large Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) drew a stark contrast between Tsai’s trip and former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) visit to China.

  “Thus far, Ma has yet to make progress on promoting peace across the Taiwan Strait, as he has not spoken up to rein in China’s irrational actions and its military intimidation,” Hung said.

  “While in China, Ma has only played an obsequious role and made pronouncements that run counter to Taiwan’s national interests. Ma has challenged the political reality that Taiwan and China do not belong to each other, and are each a sovereign country,” he said.

  Meanwhile, KMT caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) told reporters that while the party welcomed the Tsai-McCarthy meeting in helping to bolster Taiwan-US ties, the government should assess its possible impact on national security and cross-strait relations.

  The people of Taiwan and China wish to see peace and stability, Tseng said, urging Beijing not to overreact to the meeting.

  In contrast, New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) applauded the meeting, saying that it signified the US’ support for Taiwan and the friendship between the two sides.

  The meeting should be viewed positively, Chiu said, adding that he hoped to see more exchanges by officials from both sides.

  “Beijing must acknowledge that Taiwan, as a sovereign and independent country, has the right to interact with other nations,” he said, criticizing Beijing for continuing to threaten Taiwan in the wake of the meeting.

  Taiwan People’s Party caucus whip Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) expressed similar views, saying that the US is a free and democratic nation and, as such, China does not have the right to dictate whom US officials should meet.

  China’s threats and intimidation would only worsen cross-strait relations, he said, urging Chinese officials to maintain rational and pragmatic exchanges instead of continuing its efforts to suppress Taiwan.

  Vice President William Lai (賴清德) in a message said that Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy has contributed greatly to efforts to expand Taiwan’s diplomatic space and bolster its relations with the US.

  McCarthy, a close friend of Taiwan, has voiced his support over the years for its meaningful participation in international organizations, Lai said.

  Additional reporting from CNA
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