Sat, Aug 26, 2023 page3

• World knows PRC cause of tension: Lai

  ACROSS THE STRAIT: If elected, William Lai vowed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and communicate with China based on ‘parity and dignity’

  • By Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEI
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  The international community blames the rise in tension across the Taiwan Strait on China rather than Taiwan, and the reality is that Taiwan is already a country, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.

  Speaking to foreign reporters in Taipei, Lai said it was not President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) or Taiwan that was to blame for tensions.

  “The international community understands that recent tensions are not because of President Tsai or because of Taiwan, but because of China,” said Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate for the presidential election in January.

  

  Vice President William Lai interacts with the media in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters

  Lai has said he does not seek to change Taiwan’s official name, the Republic of China. Both Lai and Tsai have said that as Taiwan is already an independent country, there is no need for a separate declaration of independence.

  The reality is that Taiwan routinely elects its own leaders, from the grassroots all the way to the top, giving it the right to be called a state, he said at DPP headquarters in Taipei.

  “In fact, it is a sovereign, independent country; there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

  China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Chinese government has repeatedly called Lai a “liar” and a separatist.

  Lai said that China would try and use “various means” to interfere in the election and, if it was successful and affected the outcome, it would seriously damage Taiwan’s democratic system.

  “I believe Taiwan’s people will firmly protect democratic values, and courageously decide their own next president,” he said.

  Lai said his support for maintaining the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait was “unwavering,” and vowed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region if elected, reiterating an offer for talks with China based on “parity and dignity.”

  China has demanded that Taiwan’s government accept that both sides of the Strait belong to “one China,” which both Tsai and Lai have declined to do, before it would consider talks.

  “Real peace cannot come from losing sovereignty for exchanges and cooperation,” Lai said.

  In a separate interview that aired on Next TV on Thursday, Lai vowed to promote diplomacy based on universal values if elected president.

  Lai proposed boosting “value diplomacy,” or fostering deeper and more stable connections with the international community with values such as democracy, peace and prosperity, he said.

  He added that he does not consider the upcoming presidential election as a choice between war and peace, responding to a comment made by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

  The election is to decide Taiwan’s future — whether to continue its pursuit of democracy or to return to authoritarianism by accepting Beijing’s “one China” principle, Lai said.

  “We are unable to choose peace as it has to be earned with strength,” which is why Taiwan is bolstering its defense capabilities and enhancing its economic security, he said.

  Lai thanked US President Joe Biden’s administration for its efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait over the past three years.

  Washington connected Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines with NATO and the EU to stabilize the global democratic order and safeguard regional peace and security, he said.

  Taiwan can contribute to the promotion of peace, democracy and prosperity around the world, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding: “Taiwan can help. Taiwan is helping.”

  As it is Taiwanese culture to be friendly, the nation hopes to befriend every country, China included, he said.

  The two sides share common enemies, such as natural disasters and infectious diseases, as well as a common goal, which is to improve the well-being of their people, he said.

  Thanks to the funds, talent and technologies Taiwanese brought, China has seen rapid economic growth in the past 30 years, he said.

  “Taiwan does not ask for anything in return, but only hopes for peace,” he added.

  If he has an opportunity to dine with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), Lai said that he would treat him to Tainan’s specialty shrimp rice and a glass of bubble milk tea, and tell him that there would be no winner in war.

  Additional reporting by Liu Tzu-hsuan
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