President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) moved quickly yesterday to take advantage of comments reportedly made by a senior US official casting doubt on the ability of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to maintain stable cross-strait relations.
A report in the Financial Times on Thursday cited an unnamed US official as saying that Tsai had created “distinct doubts about whether she is both willing and able to continue the stability in cross-strait relations the region has enjoyed in recent years.”
Reacting to the reported comment, KMT spokesperson Chen Yi-hsin (陳以信) said it reflected “the doubts most Taiwanese have over Tsai’s cross-strait policy, that she has only wishful thinking about the China.”
Chen said that Tsai’s rejection of the “1992 consensus” — which the KMT insists is an agreement reached during cross-strait talks in Hong Kong in 1992 whereby both sides agreed to retain their own interpretation of “one China” — shows the insincerity of her claims that she would be willing to work with China in an effective manner.
“She wants China to understand her policy, but does not make enough effort to understand the views of the other side,” Chen said.
The presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for Jan. 14.
In response to a question about the anonymous official’s comments, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner reiterated long-standing US assertions that it would steer clear of Taiwanese internal politics.
“We strongly support Taiwan’s democracy and the will of the Taiwanese people to choose their leaders in the upcoming election,” Toner said. “Our only interest is in free, fair and open presidential elections. We do not take any sides.”
A Taiwanese woman on Sunday was injured by a small piece of masonry that fell from the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican during a visit to the church. The tourist, identified as Hsu Yun-chen (許芸禎), was struck on the forehead while she and her tour group were near Michelangelo’s sculpture Pieta. Hsu was rushed to a hospital, the group’s guide to the church, Fu Jing, said yesterday. Hsu was found not to have serious injuries and was able to continue her tour as scheduled, Fu added. Mathew Lee (李世明), Taiwan’s recently retired ambassador to the Holy See, said he met
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