Taiwan’s President-elect Tsai Ing-wen says democracy will be at the heart of future strait ties
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Taiwan’s President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that democracy would be at the heart of future relations with Beijing after they hit recent bumps over sensitive issues such as the forced deportation of Taiwanese suspects from Kenya to the mainland.
Tsai, who will take office on May 20 as the island’s first female president, repeated her vow to maintain the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from the mainland.
“I have said several times in the past that the new government will do whatever we can to sustain the peace and stability of cross-strait ties and make them consistent and predictable,” Tsai said.
“I’ll abide by my promise,” she said while visiting the Mainland Affairs Council, where she served as minister for four years until 2004.
I have said several times in the past that the new government will do whatever we can to sustain the peace and stability of cross-strait ties ... I’ll abide by my promise
“What will be different from the past eight years is that the promotion of cross-strait ties will have to be based on the principle of democracy and people’s desires [irregardless of the position of any individual political party],” she said.
“Only through this, can cross-strait ties be managed over a long period and the maintenance of the status quo be meaningful.”
Before January’s presidential vote, Tsai had accused the KMT government of handling relations with mainland China through an opaque process, not properly overseen by parliament.
Taipei earlier this month criticised Beijing for being “rude and violent” over the deportation of 45 Taiwanese from Kenya to mainland China, where they face investigation for fraud.
What will be different is that the promotion of cross-strait ties will have to be based on the principle of democracy and people’s desires
There was another bout of diplomatic sparring when Malaysia deported 20 Taiwanese fraud suspects to Taiwan, even though Beijing said their offences were committed on the mainland.
Observers say Beijing is stepping up pressure on Tsai because it does not trust her party, which has historically been pro-independence.
Taiwan and mainland China split in 1949 after a civil war. But Beijing still considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
Ties improved markedly after the KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou came to power as president in 2008, pledging to strengthen trade and tourism links. He was re-elected in 2012.
However, public sentiment in Taiwan has largely turned against the Beijing-friendly approach, with voters saying trade deals have been agreed in secret and not benefited ordinary citizens.
