“We’re a successful democracy, we have a pretty decent economy, we deserve respect from China.” That was Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking to the BBC days after voters gave her a second term in a landslide.
She said Beijing needs to face reality. Taiwan, in her words, does not have to declare independence. “We are an independent country already and we call ourselves the Republic of China (Taiwan).”
Her Democratic Progressive Party has now beaten the island’s China-friendly opposition for the fourth time. Tsai, who opposes closer ties with Beijing, described the result as a reflection of what Taiwanese people want. In her victory speech she had already called on Beijing to drop its threat to take the island by force.
“We have a separate identity and we’re a country of our own,” she told the BBC. “So, if there’s anything that runs counter to this idea, they will stand up and say that’s not acceptable to us.”
Beijing’s answer
China played down the result. Xinhua, the state news agency, ran a commentary calling it a “temporary counter-current” that was “just a bubble under the tide of the times”.
Beijing also objected to the congratulations that poured in. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said officials from more than 60 countries had greeted Tsai on her re-election, taiwannews.com.tw reported on January 13. Hong Kong Free Press said China had slammed officials from the US and other countries for sending their wishes.
Beijing claims Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, as its own territory and says it should be reunified with China by force if necessary.
Messages of congratulation also came from the Dalai Lama, from Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan exile administration, and from Speaker Pema Jungney of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.
