Cross-strait peace red line for international community, Taiwan: VP Lai
ROC Central News Agency
08/25/2023 06:22 PM
Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) The international community considers peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait a "red line" that must not be crossed and the same holds true for Taiwan, Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in a TV interview on Thursday.
The relationship between Taiwan and China has evolved into issues of international concern, Lai, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate for the 2024 presidential election in January, told the program broadcast on Era News.
In order to preserve peace and stability, the international community sees the issue as a "red line," said Lai, citing statements issued at the Trilateral Leaders' Summit of the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea at Camp David near Washington on Aug. 18.
The red line outlined internationally should naturally align with that of Taiwan, Lai said, adding that the issue is not a challenge that Taiwan can resolve independently.
U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol described cross-strait peace and stability as "indispensable" for security and prosperity in the international community, according to the statements.
Those statements were the latest issued by world leaders in recent years since growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait have increased fears of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
During the interview, Lai called on Beijing to respect the Taiwanese people's freedom to elect their own president based on their own will and refrain from trying to intimidate Taiwan by flexing military muscle or aggressive behavior.
China will feel the repercussions on its economy if it continues to use such tactics because they will lead to Taiwanese investors gradually moving out of China, he added.
The current three-way election involves Lai, Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the Taiwan People's Party, with possible contender Terry Gou (郭台銘), founder of Hon Hai Technology group, and has been framed by some opposition politicians as a choice between war and peace.
The opposition has cast doubt on the Lai's ability to maintain peaceful cross-strait relations and labeled him as being too close to pro-independence activists.
Lai in 2017 described himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence."
In recent interviews, Lai said he had no plans to pursue formal independence because Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country called the Republic of China (ROC). Lai also noted that the ROC and the People's Republic of China (PRC) should not be subordinate to each other.
Asked to comment, Lai said this characterization of the election shows that the opposition is dancing to Beijing's tune and seeking to use the threat of war to sway voters.
The acceptance of the "one China principle" by the opposition parties in their proposed cross-strait policies is akin to relinquishing the nation's sovereignty and that will never bring genuine peace, Lai said, adding that peace only comes through strength.
Lai did not elaborate on the "one China principle." As defined by Beijing it means there is only one China in the world, with Taiwan being an inalienable part of China and the PRC being the only legitimate sovereign government of that China.
For their part, the opposition candidates have never recognized or expressed support for Beijing's "one China principle."
In July, Hou said he supported a version of the "1992 consensus" that conforms with the ROC Constitution, which says Taiwan and China are part of the same country. According to the KMT, the "1992 consensus" allows both sides to have their respective interpretation of what China means, despite recognizing that there is only one China, known as "one China, different interpretations."
The TPP's Ko has neither openly rejected nor endorsed the "1992 consensus," which underpinned warmer ties between Taiwan and China during the previous KMT administration from 2008-2016, and has urged Beijing not to see it as a prerequisite for cross-strait exchange.
In an op-ed in the Washington Post in July, Gou, who has hinted that he could run as an independent but has not yet declared his candidacy, proposed a "one China framework" based on the so-called "1992 consensus" to ease cross-strait tensions and preserve Taiwan's democracy.
Lai said he will bring sustainable peace through a four-pillar plan, including building Taiwan's defense capabilities, strengthening economic security, deepening democratic partnerships, and maintaining steady and principled cross-strait leadership, which is based on the policies adopted by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
(By Chen Chun-hwa and Shih Hsiu-chuan)
Enditem/AW
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