Pro-independence groups yesterday urged president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) not to make any concessions to China and to assert Taiwanese identity by focusing her inauguration speech on public opinion rather than “China policy” as her predecessor did.
Taiwan National Security Institute president Lo Fu-chen (羅福全) said Tsai does not need to mention the so-called “1992 consensus,” but should instead declare her resolve to lead the nation in developing a global perspective.
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese government that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“Tsai’s inauguration speech is not just for Taiwan and China, but the whole world. She does not need to bring up the ‘1992 consensus,’ which is a fabrication and does not exist. What she has to make clear is the opinions of Taiwanese,” Lo said. “According to several polls, more than 70 percent of Taiwanese believe that Taiwan is not part of China, and Taiwan is their nation.”
Lo said he hoped Tsai’s speech would not be limited to economic policies, because a more important thing is to make Taiwan a member of the international community.
“Taiwan is internationally recognized as a democratic country that does not belong to China and, hopefully, Tsai can say something like ‘Taiwan has to go global and make contributions to international society,’” he said.
World United Formosans for Independence chairman Chen Nan-tien (陳南天) said the Chinese government and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) are putting pressure on the new government as they try to keep Taiwan dependent on China, but most people identify themselves as Taiwanese instead of Chinese, and it is high time to steer away from the “one China” framework.
Tsai, as the head of a sovereign state, should make her inauguration speech with the public in mind and should not be swayed by foreign forces, Flanc Radical spokesman Ho Cheng-hui (何澄輝) said, adding that it would be ridiculous to respond to China’s expectations,.
“The fictitious ‘1992 consensus’ not only allows China to intervene in Taiwan, but also undermines Taiwanese democracy,” Ho said.
“The greatest significance of this transfer of power [from the KMT to the Democratic Progressive Party] is the denial of the 1992 consensus and Chinese values, as well as the reassertion of democratic values,” Ho said.
The foundation of the new government is not China’s will, but “the will of Taiwanese,” which is what gives authority and legitimacy to future administrations, Fu Jen Catholic University philosophy professor Shen Ching-kai (沈清楷) said.
Tsai would be limiting herself to the “one China” framework should she acknowledge the “1992 consensus,” thereby continuing the Ma administration’s policy to maintain the “status quo” of “moving toward unification,” Shen said.
The Tsai administration would be heading into a storm should it betray the public, Shen added.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
RSS