DPP's Lai claims his election will minimize risk of war with China
ROC Central News Agency
12/18/2023 06:38 PM
Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential nominee Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has claimed his election would minimize the risk of a cross-strait conflict -- despite China's repeated warnings that any push for Taiwan independence would "mean war."
Lai, the incumbent vice president, made the comments during an online campaign event Sunday while responding to Kuomintang (KMT) nominee Hou Yu-ih's (侯友宜) claims Lai's earlier proclamations of support for Taiwan independence risked triggering a war with China.
Describing Hou's remarks and similar comments from the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) as "Chinese propaganda," Lai said that he would "hold the lives of [Taiwan's] 23 million people in my heart and protect their safety."
Lai claimed, without elaborating, that his administration would minimize the risk of war and accused the KMT and TPP -- both of which advocate for closer ties with China -- of being "collaborators" for enlisting Beijing's help to win the election.
Lai's China policy has been a focal point of criticism from his opponents since the beginning of the election season, largely due to his previous self-description as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence," a statement he has distanced himself from in recent months.
When addressing his China policy in November, Lai said that while Taiwan should be open to "being friends with China," national security and peace cannot depend on Beijing's goodwill alone and should not come at the price of sovereignty.
Lai added that in the interest of the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, he was willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the DPP accused China of repeated acts of electoral interference.
At a press conference in Taipei, Lai campaign spokesperson Tai Wei-shan (戴瑋姍) said Beijing's election meddling came "in many forms."
According to Lai's campaign director Yao Li-ming (姚立明), this had included inviting ward chiefs to China as well as a recent visit to the country by KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言).
Yao also cited a Chinese Ministry of Commerce investigation into alleged unfair trade barriers imposed by Taiwan on 2,455 products from China, which was concluded on Dec. 15.
The release of the investigation's findings, originally slated to take place the day before Taiwan's Jan. 13 election, has been moved to Dec. 15, a move Tai argued was designed to increase intimidation of voters.
Tai noted that under Ministry of Justice regulations, individuals who report foreign attempts to meddle in Taiwan's elections can receive a reward of up to NT$20 million (US$640,779).
(By Yeh Su-ping and Chung Yu-chen)
Enditem/ASG
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