Liberty Times (LT): Many people believe that cross-strait relations will be the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] administration’s biggest challenge. The administration of Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) based its cross-strait policy on the so-called “1992 consensus” [the existence of which the DPP denies]. However, your policy is to “maintain the status quo.” How will you obtain China’s understanding while truly maintaining the “status quo”?
Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文): The results of this election demonstrate that maintaining the “status quo,” which is my policy, is the mainstream view of Taiwanese. Maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait and the stable development of the cross-strait relationship are the common wish of all groups concerned.
However, that responsibility is not unilateral. Both sides must work to build a consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship.
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
On the evening of the ballot count, I said in the news conference that I would use the Republic of China’s [ROC] constitutional institution, the results of bilateral negotiations, talks and exchanges, and the democratic will expressed through the democratic principle as the basis for developing cross-strait relations.
I reiterate as president-elect that, when the new administration is inaugurated on May 20, it will be based on the constitutional institution of the ROC; it will act from a vantage point that transcends partisanship; it will follow Taiwan’s most recent democratic will and the most commonly shared consensus; and pursuit of the perpetuation of a peaceful and stable “status quo” in cross-strait relations will be grounded on the common interest of the people.
In 1992, the two parties [the Straits Exchange Foundation and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits] from the two sides communicated and negotiated through an approach of mutual understanding and “seeking common ground while shelving differences,” and I understand and respect this historical fact.
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
I also believe that since 1992, there have been 20 years of bilateral exchanges and negotiations that accumulated [contributions to] the “status quo” and accomplishments, which both sides are to protect and maintain.
It is on this basic fact and established political basis that peace, stability and development in cross-strait relations will be promoted.
LT: You just mentioned “political basis.” What is this political basis comprised of? How is it different from that of the Ma administration’s?
Tsai: The “established political basis” I mentioned has several key components.
First, there was a bilateral summit in 1992 as a matter of historical fact and there was a mutual cognizance of “seeking common ground while shelving differences.”
Second, the ROC constitutional institution as it exists now.
Third, the results of 20 years of bilateral negotiations and exchanges.
Fourth, Taiwan’s democratic principle and democratic will.
Taiwan is a democratic society. The democratic will and democracy are the twin pillars of the government’s cross-strait policy.
If the government’s policy deviates from the democratic will and democracy, it would not be sustainable and might even lose the support of the people.
We insist on obeying the democratic will and the democratic principle and we insist on ensuring the freedom of Taiwanese in the right to choose their future. This is the most significant difference between the new administration and the Ma administration.
Translated by Jonathan Chin
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique