There are still numerous challenges ahead in cross-strait relations although the outcome of the recently-concluded presidential election is a relief to China, the nation's representative to the US said on Saturday.
Speaking during an interview with CNN, Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that although Taiwan maintains close economic relations with China, Beijing has continued to suppress Taiwan in the international arena and to intimidate it with threats of military force.
WORK
Under these circumstances, the new administration, to be led by the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou (
Wu said he believes the election of Ma, who is generally considered more liberal in terms of policy toward China, and the failure of the two referendums on Taiwan's bid to join the UN will make China feel more at ease. However, in light of Ma's recent criticism of Beijing over its crackdown on protesters in Tibet and its harassment of human rights lawyers, China will need to carefully consider how it is going to interact with Ma's administration, Wu said.
TAIWAN-US RELATIONS
In terms of Taiwan-US relations, Wu said he thinks Washington will want to give less prominence to the Taiwan issue while the crises in North Korea, Iraq and Iran exist.
Also, Washington will expect Taiwan to strengthen its capability to defend itself, an issue that the new government will need to pay close attention to, he said.
OUTCOME
Wu said the election's outcome indicates that the majority of Taiwanese voters hope to see progress in cross-strait relations and in Taiwan-US relations.
In addition, the peaceful election has marked a step forward in the country's democratic development and has further consolidated democracy, Wu said.
Taiwan would benefit from more integrated military strategies and deployments if the US and its allies treat the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea as a “single theater of operations,” a Taiwanese military expert said yesterday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said he made the assessment after two Japanese military experts warned of emerging threats from China based on a drill conducted this month by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. Japan Institute for National Fundamentals researcher Maki Nakagawa said the drill differed from the
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
A rally held by opposition parties yesterday demonstrates that Taiwan is a democratic country, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that if opposition parties really want to fight dictatorship, they should fight it on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) held a protest with the theme “against green communists and dictatorship,” and was joined by the Taiwan People’s Party. Lai said the opposition parties are against what they called the “green communists,” but do not fight against the “Chinese communists,” adding that if they really want to fight dictatorship, they should go to the right place and face
RSS