President slams China for seeking to alter cross-strait status-quo
ROC Central News Agency
2019/03/28 15:50:45
Honolulu, March 27 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) slammed China for seeking to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait during a video conference in which she participated in Honolulu Wednesday.
Despite Taiwan's efforts to pursue peaceful co-existence, China has "used every opportunity to alter the status quo" and undermine Taiwan's democratic institutions, heighten military tension and degrade the country's international space, Tsai said during the conference, which was presided over by Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James.
Beijing's schemes have led to growing distrust among the people of Taiwan, posing an underlying challenge to the future of cross-strait relations, Tsai said, adding that "China's actions have underscored the need for Taiwan to increase our self-defense and deterrence capabilities. To be clear, we seek peace, not hostility."
"We will continue to seek closer partnerships with like-minded countries so that we can fulfill the promise of the Indo-Pacific strategy," which seeks to make countries sovereign, without being subject to coercion, she said.
"It is rooted in our shared desire to sustain the rules-based framework that has been at the heart of this region's prosperity since the Second World War. We believe that any effort to change that framework would be a fundamental mistake."
"Taiwan is a force for good in the region. We are a democracy and the only democratic Chinese-speaking country in the world," she said.
Tsai said Taiwan takes pride in its freedom and human rights, which are the basis of the country's values, and is deeply committed to fostering a more peaceful, stable and prosperous regional environment.
"My administration has pledged to be much more forceful in defending Taiwan's hard-won freedoms and ensuring that our country continues to be a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific," she said.
Amid mounting pressure from China to accept its version of "one country, two systems," she said that Taiwan is taking a much more aggressive approach to counteract the Chinese government's infiltration of Taiwan's society and economy, as well as its interference in Taiwan's domestic affairs.
"We are also stepping up our engagements in the Pacific islands, where China has engaged in a campaign to increase its influence in the region. We have noted growing awareness of China's efforts by the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other responsible stakeholders," she said.
Tsai thanked the U.S. for its support in helping Taiwan maintain its diplomatic alliances and said that "we remain committed to working with like-minded countries to protect the core values of good governance, accountability and sustainable development in the Pacific."
In the face of the monumental challenges from across the strait, Tsai said her administration "has not wavered in responding in a pragmatic and responsible manner that takes into account our shared interests in the region."
Following the video conference, Tsai attended a photo exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act at the East-West Center, a Honolulu-based think tank.
Later Wednesday, the president visited the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, a government disaster control body, and was given a tour by Arthur Logan -- an adjutant general for the state of Hawaii.
Tsai was making a transit stop in Hawaii Thursday on her way back to Taiwan following visits to Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands on her "Oceans of Democracy" trip to some of Taiwan's Pacific allies -- her sixth overseas trip since assuming the presidency in May 2016.
(By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Flor Wang)
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