Taiwan's legislative speaker thanks Xi for helping his country grab eyeballs
ROC Central News Agency
04/07/2023 09:20 PM
Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) on Friday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) for helping Taiwan gain international media coverage by ramping up pressure on Taipei before and after the meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
You made the remark at a news conference to welcome a U.S. congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, when asked by reporters whether he was disappointed that McCarthy has not visited Taiwan amid media reports about a planned visit to Taiwan by the California Republican, and whether he would like to see a McCarthy visit take place soon.
You said that he invited McCarthy to visit Taiwan in September 2022 before he was elected House speaker, and that McCarthy, being "a man of his word," will "definitely" visit Taiwan, and that it was only a matter of time.
"Had China just let McCarthy visit Taiwan, it would have made the visit a one-time occurrence and the buzz would have subsided rather quickly," You said.
However, China "went against the flow" and overreacted to the issue, which "made a fool of itself" because now President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has met with McCarthy in the Ronald Regan Presidential Library in the U.S., which was a historic first, You said.
The landmark Tsai-McCarthy meeting has won Taiwan much international publicity and seen media outlets worldwide refer to Tsai as "Taiwan's president," You said.
Additionally, China has achieved the opposite of what it had set out to achieve because it has not caused McCarthy to cancel his plan to visit Taiwan, and when he does, it will help to boost Taiwan's international exposure a second time, You said.
"I guess I should thank Xi Jinping for that. Thank you, Xi Jinping," You said.
You's swipe at Xi prompted laughter from the audience and McCaul, who patted You on the shoulder and shook his hand.
Asked by reporters whether Taiwan would welcome U.S. troops and those of any allies to defend it in the event of a Chinese military invasion, You said: "We welcome any allies to come together to defend against an expansionist or authoritarian government."
If a peace- and freedom-loving country is invaded by an authoritarian state, all members of the democratic alliance worldwide should band together and fight, as only by doing so can the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights continue to flourish, You said.
You said that beyond authoritarianism and expansionism, the traditional Chinese mentality that China is the "celestial dynasty" is still ingrained in the Chinese Communist Party's mentality.
As a result, You said, China would not be satisfied with Taiwan admitting defeat in a war, as it would expect total submission, and this mindset does not only apply to Taiwan but also to any other country, he said.
Asked whether Taiwan's government sees Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "wake-up call," You said that the sudden siege caught the government off guard.
You went on to say that the lesson the ongoing war in Ukraine holds for democracies worldwide is the unpredictability of authoritarian states and that democracy can be so fragile.
"Democratic nations worldwide should take heed and prepare for invasions by authoritarian states that could happen anytime," You said.
You said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's miscalculation of his chances to defeat Ukraine quickly, could provide lessons for Xi when contemplating an invasion of Taiwan.
Putin believed he could take Ukraine in a week, but has not been able to do so more than a year later, You said.
"Putin basically saw Ukraine as a delicious meal, without realizing that it is actually a fishbone that has now become stuck in his throat, one he can't swallow or spit out."
With the Taiwan Strait as a natural barrier, advanced weapons provided by the U.S., and the Taiwanese people's unprecedented steadfast resolve to defend their country -- which You said was inspired by the Ukrainians -- Xi "would be wise not to attack," You said.
(By Sean Lin)
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