‘Stand On Right Side Of History’: China Urges Taiwan To Oppose Pro-Freedom Forces In Prez Polls
China considers the separated island of Taiwan, which has remained a democracy in contrast to China's one-party Communist Party rule, to be part of the mainland.
In a last-minute plea before of the Taiwan presidential election, China urged Taiwanese voters to stand on the right side of history by rejecting pro-independence forces on the island and backing peaceful reunification, news agency PTI reported. In his New Year message to the people of Taiwan, China's point man on Taiwan, Song Tao, stated that China opposes "Taiwan independence," protects peace, expands exchanges, strengthens cooperation, deepens integration, and advances reunification to ensure that cross-strait relations progress peacefully.
China considers the separated island of Taiwan, which has remained a democracy in contrast to China's one-party Communist Party rule, to be part of the mainland.
Song, who heads the Communist Party of China's Taiwan Work Office and the State Council's or China's Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, also urged Taiwanese to stand on the right side of history, return cross-strait relations to a peaceful path, and advance the process of China's peaceful reunification.
China is keeping a tight eye on Taiwan's presidential election, with the estranged island's 19 million people ready to elect a new leader on January 13 to replace pro-independence Tsai Ing-wen, who stood hard against China throughout her two-term Presidency spanning eight years.
She is scheduled to stand down after two terms.
China labels her and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatists, while implicitly supporting the pro-Beijing Kuomintang (KMT), which promotes tight links with the mainland.
There are currently three people in the running.
Vice President William Lai Chiang-te represented the DPP. Hou Yup-ih of the KMT and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) ran against him.
According to pre-election polls, Lai is the front-runner, with Hou coming in second and Ko coming in third.
According to the study, 82.7 percent of Taiwanese believe the threat from China has grown in recent years.
Since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, China has increased its attempts to "re-unify" Taiwan by firmly implementing its One China policy, which it regards as a top military and diplomatic priority.
Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, with significant air and naval deployments in the Taiwan Strait that divides the two, raising worldwide worries about future invasion.
In his New Year statement on Sunday, Xi stated that China would undoubtedly be reunified, and that the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be united by a shared goal and participate in the glory of the Chinese nation's rejuvenation.
Tsai responded to Xi's remarks by stressing that democracy was the most essential concept to follow in dealings with China.
"This is taking the joint will of Taiwan's people to make a decision. After all, we are a democratic country," she informed the media in Taipei on Monday.
Tsai, Taiwan's first female president, stated that China should accept the decision of Taiwan's election and that it is the duty of both sides to keep the strait peaceful and stable.
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