Only DPP firmly defends Taiwan's sovereignty: VP Lai
ROC Central News Agency
08/31/2023 06:05 PM
Taipei, Aug. 31 (CNA) Vice President and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential nominee Lai Ching-te (賴清德) sought to assure voters in Taiwan that the DPP is the best choice to maintain the country's sovereignty and democracy during a party meeting in Taipei on Thursday.
"Of all the presidential candidates, only we [the DPP] firmly defend Taiwan's sovereignty," Lai told the meeting attended by nearly 100 DPP workers who head local election campaign offices across the country.
The DPP "asserts that Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China" and that "the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to one another," he added.
He criticized his opponents for caving in to Beijing by either accepting the "1992 consensus" or proposing to resume negotiations over a service trade agreement with China, which he claimed would not proceed unless Taipei "accepts the 'one China' principle."
The vice president was referring to Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) and Kuomintang (KMT) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜).
Ko has suggested the possibility of a cross-strait agreement on trade in services, Gou has publicly endorsed the "1992 consensus," while Hou has embraced both.
In 2014, the then-KMT government attempted to push through a plan to sign a cross-strait service trade agreement, which in practice promoted the greater economic integration of Taiwan with China, but was forced to back down following massive protests in Taipei later dubbed the "Sunflower Movement."
However, it remains unclear whether the "one China" principle, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China, is considered by Beijing to be a prerequisite for such trade negotiations.
At a press briefing in June, Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮), a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, responded to a question on the topic by saying Beijing was open to negotiating with any parties in Taiwan should they support the "1992 consensus."
The "1992 consensus" refers to an understanding reached at a 1992 meeting between Taiwan's then-ruling KMT and Beijing that both sides would recognize there is only "one China."
Over the years, the KMT has maintained that the consensus tacitly allows each side to interpret what "China" means, although Beijing has never formally endorsed that formula.
The DPP, on the other hand, has refused to accept the "1992 consensus." It has argued that Beijing never acknowledged the existence of the ROC and that agreeing to it would imply acceptance of China's claim over Taiwan.
At the meeting, Lai also said the 2024 presidential election is of the utmost importance for the future of Taiwan, contending that it will determine whether the country's sovereignty and democratic system can be sustained.
Lai, without elaborating, urged the party rank and file to be wary of smear campaigns against the DPP and to unite in pursuing victory in the election next year.
(By Teng Pei-ju)
Enditem/AW
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