Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told a discussion at the University of London on Thursday that maintaining cross-strait stability and peace was Taiwan’s responsibility to the international community.
However, improving cross-strait ties “could not come at the expense of Taiwan’s democracy,” which provides the country with a “foundation and security,” and Taiwan should include more of the international community in its dealings with Beijing, she said.
Tsai visited the university’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) as well as her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), in the British capital on Thursday during the second leg and final stop of her European trip.
She sat down at a forum discussing security in the Asia-Pacific region at the SOAS, a change in focus for Tsai who has largely trumpeted her sustainable energy and anti-nuclear policies during her week-long trip.
According to a transcript provided by the DPP, she said she believed China’s rise has posed “significant challenges” to -Western-style democracies like Taiwan, the US, Japan and the EU.
“But I also believe that economic development and international interactions will help promote Chinese freedom and democratization. Taiwan must also play a part in supporting these [ideals],” she said.
On Taiwan’s international space, Tsai said Taiwanese “sincerely hope” the international community could accept Taiwan and include it as part of the increasingly interconnected global framework. Taiwan needed “international support to progress in its interactions with Beijing,” she said.
The DPP chairperson also let slip a remark that the DPP would focus on “social justice” and “economic renewal” as two main points in the upcoming presidential and legislative campaigns.
The remarks on cross-strait issues are largely a repeat of statements she has previously made in Taipei, with her pledging that a future DPP administration would maintain more “stable” and “consistent” relations with China.
Tsai is on an LSE--maintained list of world leaders, having graduated from the school with a doctorate in law 27 years ago.
According to members of the delegation that accompanied Tsai on the trip, LSE’s interim director Judith Rees expressed optimism that Tsai, 54, could become Taiwan’s first female president. They were said to have spoken on pressing environmental and sustainable energy issues.
According to DPP spokesperson Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), Tsai met with more than 10 British MPs, including members of a Taiwan friendship group. Yesterday morning, UK time, she also spoke with members of the Chinese-speaking press in London.
Tsai is expected to return to Taiwan this afternoon.
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