ELECTION 2024/DPP's Lai slams KMT for 'aligning with China' on cross-strait issues

Taipei, Jan. 7 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 2024 presidential candidate, said Saturday that a major problem with the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) is its consistent alignment with China's views on cross-strait issues.

"Framing the [upcoming presidential] election as a choice between peace and war is China's external propaganda," Lai said in a TV interview, commenting on the KMT's campaign narrative that voting for the DPP might lead to heightened tensions or even war between Taiwan and China.

That line by the KMT apparently references the strained relations between Taiwan and China since 2016, when President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the DPP first took office, analysts said. It also mirrors the perspective of China, which has painted the administration of Tsai as separatist and has warned that any pursuit of Taiwan independence could lead to military action, they added.

In Saturday's interview on FTV, Lai said it was regrettable that the KMT had failed to uphold Taiwan's democratic spirit.

"Instead of condemning China's interference in the election, they have aligned with it," he said.

For example, Lai said, the KMT paints Taiwan as the provocateur whenever China deploys aircraft and ships close to the island to intimidate Taiwan.

"When has Taiwan caused any provocation? Lai said. "Over the past seven or eight years, when has Taiwan displayed any provocative actions?"

He said the KMT, however, "has never stood on Taiwan's side" and has long taken the view that Taiwan is the antagonizer. That alignment with China's propaganda is highly inappropriate, Lai said.

True peace hinges on strength, he said, adding that peace in the Taiwan Strait is an important goal.

If elected as president, Lai said, he would continue the efforts to build Taiwan's economy and its national defense in a bid to deter China from taking any "reckless actions."

That commitment is grounded in the current China policy of the Tsai administration, which includes a willingness for Taiwan to engage in communication and cooperation with China, "as long as it's based on reciprocity and dignity," he said.

The goal is to enhance the wellbeing of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and foster peace and stability in the region, Lai said.

As Taiwan's Jan. 13 elections approach, the presidential candidates of the three major parties have stepped up their rhetoric against each other, particularly on issues related to China.

Lai has been targeted by the KMT and Beijing's propaganda machinery for his earlier description of himself as a "pragmatic independence worker," although he has sought to step back from that characterization in recent months.

On Jan. 13, Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) will face off against Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) of the KMT, and Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Wu Hsin-ying (吳欣盈) of Taiwan People's Party in the race for the Presidential Office.