China says will not change position on Taiwan after landslide election

[webfact]

China says will not change position on Taiwan after landslide election

By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

 

Taiwan Vice President-elect William Lai and incumbent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen celebrate at a rally after their election victory, outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

 

TAIPEI (Reuters) - China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it, Beijing said on Sunday, after President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and said she would not submit to China's threats, as state media warned she was courting disaster.

 

The election campaign was dominated by China's efforts to get the democratic island to accept Beijing's rule under a "one country, two systems" model, as well as by anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.

 

"No matter what changes there are to the internal situation in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

While China says Taiwan is its territory, Taiwan maintains it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name.

 

Tsai, who has firmly rejected China's "one country, two systems" model, won another four-year term by a landslide on Saturday, and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured a majority in parliament.

 

"Taiwan's people once again use the vote in their hands to show the world the value of democracy," Tsai said on Sunday when meeting the head of the United States' de facto embassy in Taipei, Brent Christensen.

 

"Democracy and freedom are indeed Taiwan's most valuable asset and the foundation of the long-term Taiwan-U.S. partnership," Tsai said, vowing to deepen cooperation with the United States on issues from defence to economy.

 

On Saturday, Tsai called for talks to resume with China, but said she hoped Beijing understood Taiwan and its people would not submit to intimidation.

 

However, China will not change its stance on the "one China" principle and opposing Taiwan independence, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

 

"The universal consensus of the international community adhering to the 'one China' principle will not change either."

 

China hoped the world would support the "just cause" of Chinese people to oppose secessionist activities and "realise national reunification", it added.

 

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said China should respect the election result and stop putting pressure on the island.

 

"Our government will firmly defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and Taiwan's democracy and freedom," it said.

 

'POLICY TOOLBOX'

China's official Xinhua news agency said Tsai won by deploying dirty tricks, hyping the China threat and colluding with Western forces.

 

"Whether it is to curb Taiwan independence secessionist activities or to benefit Taiwan compatriots, the mainland has a full 'policy toolbox'," it said.

 

"Tsai and the DPP must be aware that they should not act wilfully because of a fluke."

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Tsai and lauded her for seeking stability with China "in the face of unrelenting pressure".

 

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also sent congratulations, referring to Taiwan as a "precious friend".

 

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Saturday it would continue promoting the "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan, which Beijing uses to run Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.

 

Many in the former British colony fear promises made under the system are not being kept.

 

On China's internet, there was unusual criticism for the Taiwan Affairs Office's failure to win over the island, especially as Tsai's win followed a landslide for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong's local elections in November.

 

"What have you been doing?" wrote one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo. "All the money you have spent and all you have done is give succour to hypocrites and traitors."

 

The criticism follows a denunciation of the Taiwan office on Friday by the Chinese Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog for not following the party line enthusiastically and being too bureaucratic.

 

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Elaine Lies in Tokyo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Christian Schmollinger)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-13

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

 

[car720]

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it. 

[davemos]

One world one China !

[KhunFred]

How long before China claims ALL Asian countries???

[mfd101]

If any piece of earth 'belongs' to anyone, it surely belongs to the people who live there. If the Taiwanese one day vote to be part of China, so be it.

 

Meanwhile ...

[Isaan sailor]

Look at what China's done to the Baht, and the Mekong...

[Geoffggi]

On 1/13/2020 at 7:29 AM, webfact said:

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Saturday it would continue promoting the "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan, which Beijing uses to run Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.

Ha ha ha!! Look what a mess China is making of this......LOL

[Traubert]

17 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Look at what China's done to the Baht, and the Mekong...

What has China done to the baht and the Mekong?

 

It's already been disproved that they're flooding BoT with money, the currency reserve figures show that. The yuan has fluctuated pretty much the same as all other countries, i.e down about 17% over 18 months.

 

What is the problem with the Mekong?

[Eric Loh]

19 hours ago, KhunFred said:

How long before China claims ALL Asian countries???

That’s a silly assumption. Taiwan is different as the One China principle is enshrined in the PRC constitution. Unless the constitution is amended, the Taiwan claim will exist. They consider Taiwan to be a renegade regime. However on a personal note I hope they give up on Taiwan and recognize their sovereignty. Taiwan has progressed far from expectation and the 2-3 generation Taiwanese are fiercely independent and progressive. 

[DrTuner]

Good for Taiwan. Now squeeze China with sanctions until they crumble internally as commies always do and Taiwan can take over. 

[Mavideol]

Taiwan (Formosa) was part of Imperial China during the Qing dynasty back in 1683 and changed name to Taiwan in 1684. Then in 1912 it was part of the Republic of China, however during the war in 1945 it was occupied by Japan. In 1949 Taiwan developed into a democracy following the Communist MAO victory on the mainland, thus in reality Taiwan(Formosa) was never part of MAO's People's Republic of China, so why China keep claiming it. Many countries around the world, such as Russia (USSR (СССР) with the majority of the eastern Europe countries, it was dissolved in 1991 and many countries that belonged to the former USSR became independent and Russia is not claiming them back, (maybe some exceptions) China should look at their best friend VlAD and move on, leave Taiwan alone

[DrTuner]

12 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

Russia (USSR (СССР) with the majority of the eastern Europe countries, it was dissolved in 1991 an

I remember that joyous day. I was sitting in the lecture hall at the university when a bunch of guys busted in and shouted "The russkies have fallen" while throwing rubles in the air. It was instant party for days. Can't wait to have the same with China.

[KhunFred]

USA should have nuked China, way back in the fifties. Sure, it's a war crime, but how many war crimes has the USA perpetrated that resulted in a better world???

[car720]

On 1/13/2020 at 6:36 PM, KhunFred said:

How long before China claims ALL Asian countries???

Their first move would be Mongolia.  Welcomed into the fold. Then a litte bite off the top of India.  Though, they could buy Bangladesh for a few dollars more.

Edited January 15, 2020 by car720
spelling