Cai Inwen Island Chief of Staff believes that Beijing’s initiative aims to downplay Taiwan’s status and undermine the status quo in the Strait of Taiwan.
Taiwan finds the “one country, two systems” formula proposed by Beijing as the basis for peaceful reunification unacceptable. This was stated on Wednesday by the Island Chief of Staff, Cai Inwen, speaking at the inauguration ceremony for a second four-year term.
“We do not accept the “one country, two systems” principle that Mainland Chinese authorities are imposing on us to denigrate Taiwan and undermine the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We are firmly committed to this position”, – she emphasized in her speech, which was broadcast live from Taipei.
“The relationship between the two sides of the Strait has reached a historic turning point. It is incumbent upon both sides to find a way to coexist in the long term and prevent the strengthening of antagonism and division”, – said Cai Inwen.
She expressed her willingness to engage in dialogue with Beijing to enhance her contribution to regional stability. Over the past four years, she said, “in the face of complex and changing circumstances” in the region, the Taipei administration has made “best efforts” to maintain peace and stability in the Strait of Taiwan.
“We will continue these efforts and are ready to engage in dialogue with mainland China and make more concrete contributions to regional security”, – she said.
Taiwan’s current chief of staff, the Democratic Progressive Party, which opposes the policy of rapprochement with the People’s Republic of China, won by a wide margin in the January 11 elections on the island.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, but according to the official Chinese position, supported by most countries, including Russia, is considered one of the Chinese provinces. Beijing’s “one country, two systems” model has been applied to Hong Kong (Xianggang) and Macao (Aomen), which have been given a special administrative status and a wide degree of autonomy since their transition to Chinese jurisdiction.