Taiwanese president-elect wants ‘healthy dialogues’ between Beijing and DPP
Taiwan’s president-elect William Lai Ching-te has called for party-to-party talks with Beijing just weeks before his inauguration, at a time of souring cross-strait ties.
Lai, of the independenceleaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said he hoped “the ruling parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will responsibly start healthy dialogues”, according to Taiwanese media.
He told a party meeting on Wednesday the two sides should understand and respect each other’s positions, and cherish each other’s goodwill. He also mentioned a willingness to engage in exchanges and cooperation with Beijing “on the premise of reciprocity and dignity”.
Lai, elected president in January, will succeed outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen – also of the DPP – who will finish her second four-year term on May 20.
His remarks came amid soaring cross-strait tensions. Beijing has denounced Lai as an “obstinate separatist”, and has tried to downplay the significance of the ruling party’s electoral victory. The DPP won just 40 per cent of the ballot and lost its majority in the legislature.
Earlier this month, Taiwan’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou, who met mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, called on Lai to respond “pragmatically” to the “olive branch” extended by Xi.
Ma, from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), said Lai should refrain from “walking the independence path”.
Yesterday, Lai said Beijing should “have confidence” in talking to the DPP government, Taiwanese media reported. He said he hoped that Beijing would be “willing to face the elected legitimate government entrusted by the people of Taiwan, and this is the right way for cross-strait exchanges”.
Lai added a lack of exchanges with the elected government “will not be able to earn the trust and support of the people” and “in the long run, this will not be a good thing for Beijing, nor will it have a positive impact on the cross-strait peace and development.”
Beijing cut off official communications with Taipei soon after Tsai came to power in 2016, blaming the island’s government for failing to acknowledge the one-China principle.
However, it has maintained active party-to-party communication with opposition parties friendly to Beijing, especially the KMT, and has hosted multiple heavyweights from the KMT on the mainland.
Aside from stressing friendly exchanges, Lai also criticised Beijing’s move to begin operating two civil aviation routes near the sensitive median line in the Taiwan Strait.
He said the move was made without consultation with Taiwan, and he criticised Beijing for “continued unilateral alteration of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait”.
Lai also called on Beijing to “take more responsibility as a regional power for creating prosperity and happiness for the people” on both sides of the strait.