TAIPEI (TAIWAN) – Taiwan bid farewell on Saturday to former president Lee Teng-hui, who was popularly called “Mr. Democracy” for bringing autocratic rule to an end and instead working in favour of free elections.
Lee’s memorial service was conducted in the shadow of renewed Chinese war games. Lee, who died in July, has served as president from 1988 to 2000.
On Friday and again on Saturday, China conducted drills in the Taiwan Strait, near the island on Saturday alone. Beijing voiced his sentiments after a senior US. official made his visie to Taipei, there for Lee’s memorial.
Speaking at the memorial service in a chapel at a Taipei university, President Tsai Ing-wen said he had shaped the Taiwan of today.
“Confronted with daunting international challenges, he skillfully led the people of Taiwan by promoting pragmatic diplomacy. Taiwan became synonymous with democracy and was catapulted onto the world stage. Because of this, President Lee came to be lauded as Mr. Democracy. Thanks to his efforts, Taiwan now shines as a beacon of democracy.”
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, sent a recorded video message for his “close friend” Lee.
“Now he is no longer here, but we Buddhists believe in life after life, so most probably he will be reborn in Taiwan,” he said.