(Taipei) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said Monday she hoped for long-term “peaceful coexistence” between Taipei and Beijing and stressed that the future of bilateral relations must be decided by the island’s “democratic procedures.” , soon called to the polls.
“We hope that both parties [du détroit de Taïwan] will resume healthy and sustainable trade as soon as possible,” said Mr.me Tsai in her New Year’s speech, the last before her term ends in May.
“We also hope that the two parties will jointly seek a stable and long-term path to peaceful coexistence. […] “, she added.
The presidential and legislative elections which are to take place on January 13 in Taiwan will be particularly scrutinized by China and the United States because of their importance for the future of relations between the autonomous island and Beijing.
China, which considers it an integral part of its territory, has vowed to one day bring it back into its fold, using force if necessary.
Beijing cut off high-level communications with M’s governmentme Tsai since her election in 2016 and increased her military, diplomatic and economic pressure on the territory.
Mme Tsai, who refuses to recognize China’s territorial claims, spoke in her speech of the need for Taiwan to defend democracy.
“Faced with the return of conflict between democracy, freedom and authoritarianism in the world, the only choice for Taiwan in the future is to continue to uphold democracy and protect peace,” the leader said.
On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China will “surely be reunified” and that “all Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common goal and share the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Called to react to these remarks, Mme Tsai told reporters after her speech: “Decisions must be made according to the common will of the Taiwanese people. We are a democratic country, after all.”
“The type of relationship we establish with China in the future must be determined by our democratic procedures with a view to reaching a final decision. »