The “situation in Hong Kong over the past year” has demonstrated that democracy and authoritarianism cannot coexist within the same nation, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday in a New Year’s speech.
Responding to criticism from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the legislature’s passage of the Anti-infiltration Act (反滲透法) on Tuesday, Tsai said: “Untying the bell requires the person who tied it” (解鈴還須繫鈴人) — an idiom meaning that whoever started trouble should be the one to end it.
New policies were to take effect at the start of the new year, such as an increase to the minimum wage for the fourth year in a row and improved daycare subsidies for children aged two to three, Tsai said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
There would also be tax breaks or those caring for the elderly and subsidies for farmers who purchase agricultural equipment, she said.
She thanked Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) for the achievements under his leadership.
Over the past year, Taiwan’s economy and stock market performed well, despite instability in the global economy, Tsai said, adding that Taiwanese businesses in China had brought operations back to Taiwan in record numbers.
China has been relentless in pressuring Taiwan to make concessions on its sovereignty, but the public has clearly expressed its unwillingness to accept Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula, she said.
Her “four musts” on cross-strait relations, which she issued in January last year, were also a specific response to China’s encroachment on the nation, she added.
The “four musts” are that China must recognize the existence of the Republic of China; respect the values of democracy and freedom Taiwan’s 23 million people hold dear; resolve cross-strait differences in a peaceful and equitable manner; and engage in negotiations with the government of Taiwan or an institution with a mandate from the government.
Her resolve this year is even stronger, Tsai said before issuing what she called four points of common understanding: China, not Taiwan, destroyed the “status quo” in cross-strait relations; China has actively sought to hollow out the Republic of China through the so-called “1992 consensus”; sovereignty would not be traded for economic benefit; and vigilance is urgently needed in the face of Chinese infiltration of Taiwan — as well as its polarization of Taiwanese society — necessitating mechanisms to defend the nation’s democracy.
The so-called “1992 consensus” — which former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000 — refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the CCP that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The president dispelled concerns about the Anti-infiltration Act, saying that it would not affect anyone who is not acting on behalf of the Chinese government to infiltrate Taiwanese society or institutions.
Rulings based on the act would go through proper judicial channels, Tsai said, adding that it would not affect people’s rights or freedoms, or impede those conducting business in China.
The act would serve to better safeguard Taiwan’s democratic society, she said.
“I must reiterate: It is the Anti-infiltration Act, not an ‘anti-exchange act.’ Those doing business, studying or engaging in any normal exchanges will not be affected,” Tsai said.
Asked to comment on online media start-up Master Chain’s announcement that it was withdrawing from the Taiwanese market, Tsai said that the government would not interfere with any media company or platform.
Taiwan has been among the most highly rated nations for freedom of the press in the rankings of many research organizations, including US-based Freedom House, she said.
“No upright media company operating in Taiwan would engage in illicit activity on China’s behalf,” Tsai said, adding that she hoped Taiwan’s freedom of the press would be upheld.
Taiwan is one of many nations that have enacted legislation to combat Chinese infiltration, she said, adding that it is up to China to cease such behavior.
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
‘SECRETS’: While saying China would not attack during his presidency, Donald Trump declined to say how Washington would respond if Beijing were to take military action US President Donald Trump said that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, as the Chinese leaders “know the consequences.” Trump made the statement during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes program that aired on Sunday, a few days after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea. “He [Xi] has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘we would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump said in the interview. However, he repeatedly declined to say exactly how Washington would respond in
WARFARE: All sectors of society should recognize, unite, and collectively resist and condemn Beijing’s cross-border suppression, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said The number of Taiwanese detained because of legal affairs by Chinese authorities has tripled this year, as Beijing intensified its intimidation and division of Taiwanese by combining lawfare and cognitive warfare, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) made the statement in response to questions by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈柏洋) about the government’s response to counter Chinese public opinion warfare, lawfare and psychological warfare. Shen said he is also being investigated by China for promoting “Taiwanese independence.” He was referring to a report published on Tuesday last week by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency,
‘ADDITIONAL CONDITION’: Taiwan will work with like-minded countries to protect its right to participate in next year’s meeting, the foreign ministry said The US will “continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China,” a US Department of State spokesperson said yesterday, after Beijing suggested that members must adhere to its “one China principle” to participate. “The United States insists on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies — including Taiwan — consistent with APEC’s guidelines, rules and established practice, as affirmed by China in its offer to host in 2026,” the unnamed spokesperson said in response to media queries about China putting a “one China” principle condition on Taiwan’s
RSS