Lai Ching-te said that the country has no right to represent the Taiwanese, but indicated that it will cooperate with Beijing on some issues
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (DPP, center) promised to resist a possible invasion or annexation of the territory by China and maintain the island’s independent status.
“Our democracy and freedom are growing and thriving. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent the people of Taiwan.”, said during event in celebration of Taiwan National Day. The date is celebrated this Thursday (October 10, 2024).
The Taiwanese leader indicated he was open to cooperating with Beijing on issues such as climate change, combating infectious diseases and “maintaining regional security to pursue peace and mutual prosperity for the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait”.
Taiwan has been governed independently since the end of a civil war in 1949. China, however, considers the island to be part of its territory, in the form of a breakaway province.
In power since 2016, the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party), an acronym of Lai Ching-Te, defends the region’s autonomy in relation to Mainland China.
CHINA’S REACTION
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said told journalists this Thursday (10.Oct) that the Taiwanese president’s statements “they try to break historical connections” between territories. He also stated that Lai increases tensions in the region out of personal political interest.
“There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government that represents all of China.”he stated.
According to the spokesperson, “it doesn’t matter” what the Lai government “say or do”. He can’t “change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China, nor prevent the historical trend that China will and must achieve reunification”.
Mao Ning stated that Taiwan’s quest for independence will not be successful. “The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. Taiwan has never been a country and will never be a country, and therefore does not have so-called sovereignty.”he declared.
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