2023-02-15
Chairperson William Lai's Remarks Regarding KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia's Visit to China
In response to KMT vice chairman Andrew Hsia meeting Sung Tao, the head of Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), and Wang Huning, a member of the CCP Central Committee's Politburo Standing Committee, during his China visit, DPP chairperson William Lai (Lai Ching-te) today (15th) gave his remark during the DPP's Central Executive Committee meeting. Full text as follows:
Regarding what fellow citizens are concerned about the KMT delegation's visit to China, as the chairperson of the ruling party, I will like to make the following points:
First, since the DPP came to power, our goodwill and commitments to both sides of the Strait have stayed the same. We call for maintaining the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. And we have always advocated that cross-Strait exchanges should not be based on political preconditions. Still, the key to the stable development of cross-Strait relations should be "peace, parity, democracy, and dialogue."
Therefore, in response to KMT's decision to send its delegation to China, we will have to remind that under the context of PRC's continuous harassment of and coercion against Taiwan, as well as the current international situation, dialogues across the Strait should be more prudent to avoid sending wrong messages to the PRC and the international community.
And we also believe, as Taiwanese people clearly know, that the "1992 Consensus" defined by Beijing has no room for the Republic of China, nor sovereignty for our 23 million Taiwanese people.
Therefore, I would like to reiterate, regardless of the ruling or the opposition, we must firmly uphold our four commitments, i.e., the commitment to a free and democratic constitutional system, the commitment that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China should not be subordinate to each other, the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty, and the commitment that the future of the Republic of China (Taiwan) must be decided in accordance with the will of the Taiwanese people.
Because these four commitments are the basic foundation of maintaining the status quo of regional peace and stability, regardless of present or future, they are the common denominator of the Taiwanese people.
As I have repeatedly stated, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait are not only in the interests of all countries around the world, but also the key to continued prosperity and development of countries in the region, including both sides of the Taiwan Strait; it is also a common aspiration for everyone in the region. It is also the common hope of people on both sides of the Strait. Maintaining the status quo across the Strait is the shared responsibility of all members of the region.
As the chairperson of the ruling party, I will stand firmly on the country's side and tell our like-minded allies that Taiwan is a responsible country and a reliable ally. We are determined to maintain regional peace and stability and do our utmost to prevent the region's status quo from being changed unilaterally.
Freedom and democracy were earned through the countless sacrifices of the Taiwanese people. They are also the foundation of why the Republic of China (Taiwan) stands tall in the Indo-Pacific region today and is supported by the international community. Let us work together to fulfill our mission, which is to safeguard Taiwan and promote democracy, peace, and prosperity, so that the Taiwanese people can continue to live in a free and democratic country for generations to come.
