The US yesterday said that it has a “profound interest” in the continuation of peace and stability between Taiwan and China, just hours after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) won the election.
“We look forward to working with Dr Tsai [Ing-wen] and Taiwan’s leaders of all parties to advance our many common interests and further strengthen the unofficial relationship between the United States and the people on Taiwan,” it said in a statement.
Tsai is to become the first female president of Taiwan when she is inaugurated on May 20.
“We also congratulate the people on Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system, which will now undergo another peaceful transition of power,” US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
The US also thanks President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for his efforts to develop a strong partnership with the US and applauds him for the concrete steps he has taken to improve cross-strait ties in recent years, Kirby said in the statement.
“We hope that President Ma’s administration and the incoming administration will work constructively to ensure a smooth transition and continue to promote peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Separately yesterday, during a visit to Tsai’s campaign headquarters in Taipei, former American Institute in Taiwan director William Stanton urged China to give Tsai some time, because he knows Tsai wants stable cross-strait relations.
Stanton said was smart and cautious, adding that Tsai has had contact with China before. She will want stability, he said.
Tsai’s government faces many challenges, including issues concerning pensions, education, labor and cross-strait links, he said, adding that China “should be patient.”
He suggested Tsai send a representative or make a telephone call to Beijing to make her stance clear.
Stanton now lives in Taiwan, and is National Tsing Hua University’s senior vice president of global affairs.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also issued a statement congratulating Tsai.
“The Presidential and legislative elections held in Taiwan today are testament to Taiwan’s thriving democracy. I offer my warm congratulations to the people of Taiwan on the smooth and mature conduct of those elections and to Dr Tsai Ing-wen and her party for having won their support,” Hammond said.
Hammond said he hopes Taiwan and the Chinese Government would continue their dialogue to resolve differences and maintain the recent trend of constructive relations.
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