In New Year’s speech, Taiwan urges China to have “meaningful” talks

In her New year speech, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday said that the country is willing to have “meaningful” talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation.
Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.
China says it is responding to “collusion” between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing US support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence.
Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles,” Tsai said.
“As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue,” she added.
China, which cut off a formal talks mechanism in 2016 after she first won office, has repeatedly rejected Tsai’s advances, saying she has to first accept Taiwan is part of China.
Tsai expressed her hope that once the COVID-19 epidemic is under control, “normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings” between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume.
Meanwhile, Liu Jieyi, the head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his new year’s message they would stand by the “one China” principle. “Only by eliminating the scourge of ‘Taiwan independence’ can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

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