Taiwan presidential contender says he wants peace with mainland China, no "Taiwan Independence"

[beijingwalker]

Taiwan presidential contender says he wants peace with mainland China , no "Taiwan Independence"​

Jan 18, 2023. REUTERS

TAIPEI: Taiwan Vice President William Lai pledged on Wednesday (Jan 18) to maintain the peaceful status quo with China but also to defend Taiwan, as he took the helm at the ruling party ahead of an expected presidential run.

Lai was elected the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) new chairman on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as chairwoman in November following the DPP's trouncing at local elections.

Lai is widely expected to be the party's candidate for president in the early 2024 election, though he has not formally accepted the nomination. Tsai cannot run again as president due to constitutional term limits.

As in the last election, which the DPP won handily by promising to stand up to China, relations with Beijing are likely to top the agenda for 2024, especially as China ramps up pressure to get Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty.

Speaking to reporters after officially taking over as party chairman, Lai said facing the threat from China, the DPP's mission was to protect Taiwan, but that peace was the common expectation of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"We will use our best efforts to maintain the status quo of regional peace and stability," he said, adding that peace also depends on national defence.

Lai angered China in 2018 while he was premier, telling parliament he was a "Taiwan independence worker" and that his position was that Taiwan was a sovereign, independent country - a red line for Beijing.

Asked about those comments, Lai said he was committed to following Tsai's policy that includes stating only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

"The pragmatic acceptance is that Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country, and there is no need to separately declare Taiwan independence," he added.

China has refused to talk to Tsai since she first took office in 2016, believing her to be a separatist. Tsai says that the Republic of China on Taiwan is an independent country already, and Beijing has no right to claim it.

Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang or KMT which traditionally favours close ties with Beijing, has not decided on its presidential candidate yet.

A Tuesday poll published by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation showed Lai leading, but only slightly, over Hou Yu-ih, the KMT mayor of New Taipei city, considered by party sources a potential frontrunner as their candidate.
Hou has also not confirmed he is running.

Taiwan presidential contender says he wants peace with China

TAIPEI: Taiwan Vice President William Lai pledged on Wednesday (Jan 18) to maintain the peaceful status quo with China but also to defend Taiwan, as he took the helm at the ruling pa

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[REhorror]

It's over for America, unless they off this guy.

 

[etylo]

Taiwan presidential contender says he wants peace with mainland China , no "Taiwan Independence"​

Jan 18, 2023. REUTERS

TAIPEI: Taiwan Vice President William Lai pledged on Wednesday (Jan 18) to maintain the peaceful status quo with China but also to defend Taiwan, as he took the helm at the ruling party ahead of an expected presidential run.

Lai was elected the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) new chairman on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as chairwoman in November following the DPP's trouncing at local elections.

Lai is widely expected to be the party's candidate for president in the early 2024 election, though he has not formally accepted the nomination. Tsai cannot run again as president due to constitutional term limits.

As in the last election, which the DPP won handily by promising to stand up to China, relations with Beijing are likely to top the agenda for 2024, especially as China ramps up pressure to get Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty.

Speaking to reporters after officially taking over as party chairman, Lai said facing the threat from China, the DPP's mission was to protect Taiwan, but that peace was the common expectation of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"We will use our best efforts to maintain the status quo of regional peace and stability," he said, adding that peace also depends on national defence.

Lai angered China in 2018 while he was premier, telling parliament he was a "Taiwan independence worker" and that his position was that Taiwan was a sovereign, independent country - a red line for Beijing.

Asked about those comments, Lai said he was committed to following Tsai's policy that includes stating only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

"The pragmatic acceptance is that Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country, and there is no need to separately declare Taiwan independence," he added.

China has refused to talk to Tsai since she first took office in 2016, believing her to be a separatist. Tsai says that the Republic of China on Taiwan is an independent country already, and Beijing has no right to claim it.

Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang or KMT which traditionally favours close ties with Beijing, has not decided on its presidential candidate yet.

A Tuesday poll published by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation showed Lai leading, but only slightly, over Hou Yu-ih, the KMT mayor of New Taipei city, considered by party sources a potential frontrunner as their candidate.
Hou has also not confirmed he is running.

Taiwan presidential contender says he wants peace with China

TAIPEI: Taiwan Vice President William Lai pledged on Wednesday (Jan 18) to maintain the peaceful status quo with China but also to defend Taiwan, as he took the helm at the ruling pa

www.channelnewsasia.com

He is just paying his lip service to peace since his US master AIT has spoken recently that Taiwan should avoid war with China now at least on the surface. This guy is a die hard separatist and he will pursue his party independence agenda no doubt as the true intention of US too.

 

[beijingwalker]

He is just paying his lip service to peace since his US master AIT has spoken recently that Taiwan should avoid war with China now at least on the surface. This guy is a die hard separatist and he will pursue his party independence agenda no doubt as the true intention of US too.

I would say status quo is good for everyone at present, time is on China's side, we don't have to be in a hurry. Taiwan is mainland most important business partner.

 

[Zsari]

I would say status quo is good for everyone at present, time is on China's side, we don't have to be in a hurry. Taiwan is mainland most important business partner.

Just as the case in HK, US and its underlings in Taiwan will provoke China until action has to be taken. There is no longer a status quo.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

It's over for America, unless they off this guy.

The guy before her was pro-good relations with China.

However he was still wary and did multiple US weapons purchases.

China fumes at US arms sale to Taiwan

Tensions rise as Bejing halts military exchange with Washington

www.theguardian.com

https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/16/politics/u-s-taiwan-arms-sales/index.html

 

[Han Patriot]

The guy before her was pro-good relations with China.

However he was still wary and did multiple US weapons purchases.

China fumes at US arms sale to Taiwan

Tensions rise as Bejing halts military exchange with Washington

www.theguardian.com

https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/16/politics/u-s-taiwan-arms-sales/index.html

He needs to pay tribute to his White masters. That's what happens to indirectly colonized countries.

 

[Beast]

Just as the case in HK, US and its underlings in Taiwan will provoke China until action has to be taken. There is no longer a status quo.

It not a matter of this clown can provoke China anything. They lose the mayor election recently becos Taiwanese are anger of them disrupting their strait business and peace. That is why DPP soften their stance. They are not gonna lose the president election coming soon with more foolish moves and lose the support of most Taiwanese.

 

[Zsari]

It not a matter of this clown can provoke China anything. They lose the mayor election recently becos Taiwanese are anger of them disrupting their strait business and peace. That is why DPP soften their stance. They are not gonna lose the president election coming soon with more foolish moves and lose the support of most Taiwanese.

That was a county level election, hardly a referendum on DPP's cross strait policy, but rather its many missteps on local agendas. These swings have been seen in the past as well. It's a poor indicator of the coming presidential election. And even if KMT wins the coming election, they would fumble it on the next, not to mention a KMT victory is no victory for Beijing.