Taiwan Vice-President Lai says global community blames China for rising tension
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Mr William Lai is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the January presidential election.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TAIPEI – The front runner to become Taiwan's next president, Mr William Lai, said on Friday that the global community blames the rise in tension across the Taiwan Strait on China rather than the island.
“The international community understands that recent tensions are not because of President Tsai or because of Taiwan, but because of China,” Vice-President Lai told a news conference at his party’s headquarters.
He is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the January presidential election and is leading in the polls. President Tsai Ing-wen cannot run again after two terms in office.
Mr Lai said the reality is that Taiwan routinely elects its leaders, from the grassroots all the way to the top, giving it the right to be called a state.
“In fact, it is a sovereign, independent country, there’s no doubt about that,” he added.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his remarks but the Chinese government has repeatedly denounced him for being a “liar” and a separatist.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has a particular dislike of Mr Lai for comments he made in the past about being a "worker" for Taiwan independence. He has said on the campaign trail that he will maintain the status quo and has repeatedly offered to talk to Beijing.
China staged military exercises brief stopovers Mr Lai made in the United States
The US, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and arms supplier, which angers Beijing.
Taiwan is officially called the Republic of China, and Mr Lai has said he does not seek to change that.
Both he and Ms Tsai have said that as Taiwan is already an independent country, there is no need for a separate declaration of independence.
Mr Lai said China would try and use “various means” to interfere in the election and if it was successful, and affected the outcome, it would seriously damage Taiwan’s democratic system.
“I believe Taiwan’s people will firmly protect democratic values and courageously decide their own next president,” he said. “Real peace cannot come from losing sovereignty for exchanges and cooperation.”
He said his support for maintaining the status quo across the strait is "unwavering" and vowed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region if elected. REUTERS
