Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that she was disappointed with the outcome of a meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
“We regret that the only result of the Ma-Xi meeting is the use of politics to limit the choices of the Taiwanese public regarding cross-strait relations on an international stage,” Tsai told a news conference in Yunlin County’s Douliu City (斗六) during a stop in her central Taiwan campaign trip.
“This morning, we expected him to do three things for the people of Taiwan: confirming the ability for the 23 million people of Taiwan to make their own choices; establishing that there would be no political preconditions in the development of cross-strait relations; and ensuring equal footing and dignity in cross-strait relations. However, he did not accomplish any one of those three objectives,” she added.
Photo: Yen Hung-chun, Taipei Times
Tsai said that she was very disappointed after watching the live TV coverage of the Ma-Xi meeting in Singapore, adding that Ma departed yesterday morning as the public questioned his decisionmaking and returned with only more controversy.
“The Taiwanese public will not accept a political framework that lacks democratic procedures and the support of public opinion,” Tsai said.
“I am confident about Taiwan’s democracy and people, and I will work with the people of Taiwan in a more democratic way to make up for the damage caused by the Ma-Xi meeting,” she added.
Prior to the event, Tsai said that the Ma-Xi meeting was not a “historical meeting” as Ma had claimed, but rather only a “newsworthy meeting.”
Meanwhile, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) was harsher in his criticism of the meeting, accusing Ma of “kowtowing and surrendering” to Xi during the event.
“Ma said in front of Xi that the ‘1992 consensus’ is an agreement on ‘one China’ reached in November 1992, meaning that he has abandoned his long-claimed stance of the ‘1992 consensus’ is ‘one China, different interpretations,’” Ker said. “That was the president of the Republic of China [ROC] openly denouncing the ROC at an international event; a serious setback for Taiwan’s sovereignty.”
Ma’s actions are the equivalent of “kowtowing and surrendering. We cannot accept such remarks, and express our strong protest against them,” Ker added.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) was also critical of Ma’s remarks on the “1992 consensus” made during the meeting, saying that Ma only proved that his previous definition of the “1992 consensus” was a lie.
Ma echoing Beijing’s call for “one China” and agreeing with Xi’s opposition to Taiwanese independence are unforgivable, Huang added.
“Ma has further limited the next generation’s choices regarding Taiwan’s future,” Huang said. “That is an unforgivable crime.”
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS