“This election will not only determine Taiwan’s future leadership and direction but also serve as a testament to our commitment to democracy,” said Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party candidate for president of Taiwan.
Lai was speaking at a recent international press conference hosted by the DPP. YouTube has video. His opening remarks, in English, begin at 9:08. (He answered questions in Chinese that was simultaneously translated for attendees.)
Lai continued: “I am confident that you will see…how our people stand firmly with democracy. Even as we stand at the forefront of defending our values against authoritarianism, we are determined to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
“While aspiring for peace, we harbor no illusions. Therefore, I have proposed a four-pillar plan for peace to ensure continued stability in the Taiwan Strait. We will build up Taiwan’s defense deterrence, strengthen Taiwan’s capabilities in economic security, enhance partnerships with democracies around the world, and maintain stable and principled leadership on cross-strait relations.
“Over the past eight years, the international community has supported the steady, pragmatic, and consistent cross-trait policies of President Tsai Ing-wen. I will continue to uphold these policies, which are in the interest of both Taiwan and the international community. I will maintain the status quo and continue to bring society together within the framework of the Republic of China, Taiwan.”
Lai, currently the vice president, has noted before that contrary to Chinese propaganda blasting “separatists” in Taiwan, there isn’t any question of Taiwan’s “becoming” a separate or independent country; it already is a separate and independent country.
Phrases like “commitment to democracy” often seem empty or pro forma in other contexts but can’t be taken that way here, in the context of nearby China’s continuous demand that Taiwan submit to being governed by the mainland. With respect to Taiwan, the first two items on China’s to-do list are “1. Take over Taiwan. 2. Destroy its democracy.” If the first happens, the second will happen much faster than democracy was destroyed in Hong Kong.
