The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is neither “anti-China (反中)” nor “anti-Chinese (反華),” but rather it does not like anything that is undemocratic, former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said, adding that she thinks the best way to protect Taiwan’s democracy is to consolidate its democratic system.
Tsai made the remarks during a teleconference with Chinese dissident Wang Dan (王丹) on Friday, a transcription of which was publicized yesterday.
“Having been the [DPP’s] party chairperson for some years, I do not feel the DPP harbors an anti-China or anti-Chinese sentiment,” Tsai said in response to Wang’s comments that some Chinese and overseas Chinese think the DPP is anti-China or anti-Chinese.
“Instead the party and its supporters just don’t like anything that is undemocratic, repressive and authoritarian. People who value freedom, democracy and human rights are all good friends of the DPP,” said Tsai, who stepped down as DPP leader at the end of last month.
Wang, one of the student leaders of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests, suggested that the DPP should continue to send China a strong and clear message that says “the key barrier between Taiwan and the mainland [sic] is the issue of democracy in China.”
Doing so could help China’s democratization, as well as indirectly promote democratic development in Taiwan, Wang added.
Tsai said Taiwan has accumulated much experience during its democratization, in which the DPP has played an important role, and that many people have sacrificed a lot for it. All these experiences would serve as an inspiration for people in China who harbor a desire for democracy in their country, she said.
Tsai said the recent dismissal of former Chongqing Chinese Communist Party secretary Bo Xilai (薄熙來) showed people the lack of transparency in Chinese politics.
This lack of transparency may lend an appearance of stability on a superficial level, but beneath it lies an underlying concern, Tsai said, adding that transparency is an important element in political stability.
Tsai also said that the best way to protect Taiwan’s democracy is to consolidate its democratic system. The DPP must maintain dialogue with the public and let each and every Taiwanese understand that they have the responsibility to protect the nation’s hard-won democracy, she said.
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