Tsai calls for return of 'healthy' cross-strait exchanges in final New Year address

Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) used her final New Year's Day address on Monday to reiterate a call for the resumption of "healthy exchanges" with China.

Tsai, who will leave office upon the completion of her second four-year term in May, said that during her eight years as president, Taiwan has gained international trust as a democratic partner for its "unprovocative and unyielding" approach in the face of Chinese aggression.

As the country continues to increase its international profile, Tsai said she hoped both sides of the Taiwan Strait could reopen dialogue on the basis of peace, reciprocity and democracy as part of a long-term solution for peaceful coexistence.

Tsai also expressed hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait could shoulder collective responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Since Tsai first took office in May 2016, China has cut official communications with Taiwan, primarily due to the rejection by the president's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of the so-called "1992 consensus."

The consensus was a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Chinese government. It has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means.

The DPP, however, has never acknowledged the "1992 consensus," arguing that Beijing allows no room for the interpretation of "China" as the Republic of China, and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan.

The DPP also argues that the KMT's position is tantamount to accepting the "one country, two systems" formula already imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong and Macau.

Citing a 2019 speech by China President Xi Jinping (習近平), the DPP has argued that the "1992 consensus" is the same as the "one country, two systems" -- an arrangement under which China agreed to govern Hong Kong and Macau and has proposed for Taiwan.

While Xi's speech on Jan. 2, 2019, did include both terms, it referred to the "1992 consensus" as a political "foundation" to enable negotiations and exchanges, while the "one country, two systems" proposal was characterized as a "policy" and "plan" for achieving "peaceful reunification."

During a follow-up question-and-answer session, Tsai said she and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the DPP's presidential nominee, had always upheld the ROC Constitution and related local laws when dealing with China over the past eight years.

On "1992 consensus," Tsai said that while it was a political basis for the KMT to negotiate with China, attempts to link the so-called "consensus" with the ROC Constitution were worrisome.

The KMT's 2024 presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) has said he supports a version of the "1992 consensus" that is in line with Taiwan's laws and Constitution, which he said provides a legal framework for relations with China.

Citing the Constitution and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Hou has argued that neither side of the Taiwan Strait recognizes its sovereignty over the other, but they do not deny their respective rights to govern their respective territories.

Tsai made the above remarks after attending the New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei to mark the beginning of 2024.

In her address, Tsai also detailed her administration's accomplishments over the past eight years in office, including pushing for indigenous warship and warplane development to boost the nation's defense capabilities in response to increasing military coercions from Beijing.

As she prepares to leave office, the president said she believed her legacy was making Taiwan "a Taiwan of the world."

"Whenever you meet friends from aboard and tell them you are from Taiwan, there are more and more people now know where your hometown is," the president said.

President Tsai called on Taiwanese citizens of all political stripes to exercise their democratic rights by voting in the Jan. 13 presidential election.

"I sincerely hope that we have to believe in ourselves, believe in democracy and believe in Taiwan. Let's make the best decision for a better Taiwan, for a Taiwan of the world," she added.