Taiwan President: "Cross-Strait Relations Must Be Determined According to Taiwan's Democratic Process"

"We are ultimately a democratic nation
What kind of relationships to form
Must be finally decided by our democratic process"

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stated on the 1st that future cross-strait (China and Taiwan) relations should be determined according to Taiwan's democratic procedures.

According to major foreign media, President Tsai said at the New Year's press conference that day, "The relationship between Taiwan and China must be decided according to the collective will of the Taiwanese people," adding, "We are ultimately a democratic country." She emphasized, "In the future, the kind of relationship we establish with China must be finally decided through our democratic procedures." She also made it clear that China must respect Taiwan's election results and that maintaining peace and stability across the strait is the responsibility of both sides.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Taiwan is approaching its presidential election on the 13th, with the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party's pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te and the pro-China main opposition Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih engaged in a close race. China attacks candidate Lai as an independence activist and defines this election as a choice between war and peace. Military pressure on Taiwan continues. The day before, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his New Year's address that "national reunification is a historical inevitability" and that "compatriots on both sides of the strait should together enjoy the great glory of national rejuvenation."

Having succeeded in his 2020 re-election and led Taiwan for eight years, President Tsai expressed hope for resuming dialogue with China in her final New Year's address. She said, "We hope to resume healthy and sustainable exchanges across the strait as soon as possible," and "We also hope that both sides will seek long-term and stable peaceful coexistence under peace, fairness, democracy, and dialogue."

However, she pointed out, "We have always welcomed healthy and orderly cross-strait exchanges, but trade and economic exchanges cannot be used as political tools." She also emphasized, "Facing a new global conflict between democracy and freedom versus authoritarianism, Taiwan's only choice for the future remains to continue defending democracy and maintaining peace."

President Tsai also said that Taiwanese companies should broaden their global perspectives and pursue diversification. She stated, "This is the right path rather than returning to dependence on China," pointing out, "Especially in China's unstable market, there are unpredictable risks." The Taiwanese government has repeatedly warned that China is attempting to interfere in the presidential election through fake news, military threats, and trade pressure.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.