Taiwan's relations with China must be decided by the will of the people and peace must be based on “dignity”, said President Tsai Ing-wen this Monday (1st), after Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that “reunification” with the island is inevitable.
China has stepped up military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan, which holds presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13.
Xi's comments, in a New Year's Eve speech, took on a stronger tone than the previous year, when he said only that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are “members of the same family.”
Asked about Xi's speech at a New Year's press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai said the most important principle about which direction to take in relations with China is democracy.
“This involves the joint will of the Taiwanese people to make a decision. After all, we are a democratic country,” she said.
China must respect the election results in Taiwan, and it is the responsibility of both sides to maintain cross-strait peace and stability, Tsai added.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
