Taiwan’s relations with China must be decided by the will of the people and peace must be based on “dignity”, the island nation’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday after Chinese President Xi Jinping said “reunification” with the island was inevitable.
China is increasing military pressure on the island, where presidential and parliamentary elections are being held on January 13th.
In a harsh New Year’s address, Xi said that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are “members of the same family”.
Asked about Xi’s speech at a New Year’s press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai said democracy was “the most important principle to follow in relations with China.”
“A decision like this requires the collective will of the people of Taiwan. After all, we are a democratic country,” she concluded.
Photo©️AFP
