DPP's Lai vows to bring Taiwan forward, denounces dependence on China
ROC Central News Agency
01/06/2024 09:25 PM
Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential nominee Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Saturday he would "lead Taiwan forward steadily," criticizing his opponents' alleged endorsement of increased dependence on China.
Lai, the incumbent vice president, told a rally in Taichung that he would "lead Taiwan forward steadily to become a better nation" that stands side by side with "the world's democratic camp."
Lai added he would work to ensure Taiwan's continued development and prosperity and would "never go back on the path of relying on China."
With only one week remaining before Taiwanese head to polls to choose a new president, Lai is shifting gears as he seeks to drum up voters' support through a series of campaigning and intensified criticism against his rivals.
Branding the DPP as an advocate for Taiwan's democratic system and painting opposition parties as willingly submitting to China have been Lai's talking points in recent days, and Saturday, when he stumped in five cities and counties in western Taiwan, was no exception.
Lai said that over the past eight years, the DPP administration has gradually grown Taiwan's economy, promoted industrial upgrades, and expanded the country's cooperation with democratic nations around the world.
He called on his supporters to "use their votes to tell the world that Taiwan does not bow down to authoritarian regimes but instead continues to opt for democracy, freedom, and the path to contributing to peace and prosperity of the world."
China has made "every effort to suppress Taiwan and threaten Taiwan's democratic way of life," Lai said, arguing that "the whole world is aware of China's attempts ... to interfere with Taiwan's elections" and "divide Taiwanese society through disinformation operations."
Given China's ambitions, Lai said, the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) has nonetheless endorsed the "1992 consensus" and proposed resuming negotiations over a controversial trade agreement with Beijing.
At the same time, the third presidential contender, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from the smaller Taiwan People's Party, continued to uphold the idea that "both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," he said, referring to a phrase originally used by Beijing officials to underscore the cultural affinities between Taiwan and China.
Lai reproached both Hou and Ko for adopting a conciliatory approach to China, arguing that they would not lead Taiwanese society in the right direction toward the future.
The "1992 consensus" has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides of the Taiwan Strait that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means.
The DPP, meanwhile, has never acknowledged the consensus, arguing that Beijing allows no room for the interpretation of "China" as the Republic of China (the official name of Taiwan), and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan.
(By Teng Pei-ju)
Enditem/ASG
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
