TAIPEI (TAIWAN) – Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wished China a happy Lunar New Year on Tuesday. However, she said she would not yield to Chinese pressure and stressed upon a call for dialogue to be resumed with Beijing, which China rejected.
China has amped up its military activity around the island in the past few months, as a response to what Beijing calls “collusion” between Taipei and Washington, Taiwan’s most important international backer.
Speaking after a meeting with senior security officials, Tsai said Taiwan was in close contact with “relevant countries” to talk about the situation in the Taiwan Strait, which marks the line of separation of the island from its huge neighbour.
She added that Chinese military aircraft and warships operating around Taiwan are not favourable for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I would like to reiterate that Taiwan’s consistent position on cross-strait relations is neither to succumb to pressure nor to advance rashly when we get support,” Tsai said.
She added that Taiwan wants “meaningful talks” with China with regard to equality and mutual respect, until Beijing wants to relax the stand-off.
“Cross-strait peace is not a unilateral issue for Taiwan. The key lies in China’s hands. Historical experience has proven that verbal attacks and military threats against Taiwan will not help cross-strait relations.”
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office again dismissed outreach from her end, saying the island’s government was “distorting the facts” and was joining hands with foreign forces to seek independence.
While referring to Taiwan’s ruling party, it added, “The current severe situation in cross-strait relations is entirely caused by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities.”
Taiwan and China this week both observes the Lunar New Year, traditionally the most important holiday of the year for both, marking the arrival of spring.
“We would also like to wish the people on the other side of the strait a happy new year and hope to jointly promote peace and stability on both sides of the strait,” Tsai said.