Current:Home > reviewsUS delegation praises Taiwan’s democracy after pro-independence presidential candidate wins election -AssetLink
US delegation praises Taiwan’s democracy after pro-independence presidential candidate wins election
View
Date:2025-04-15 01:39:57
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Retired U.S. officials met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday and praised the island’s democratic process that produced a new president-elect and legislature over the weekend in defiance of China’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and threat to annex it by military force.
“Taiwan’s democracy has set a shining example for the world, a democratic success story based on transparency, the rule of law and respect for human rights and freedoms,” former national security advisor Stephen Hadley said.
America’s commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid,” he said.
Taiwan on Saturday elected current Vice President Lai Ching-te as the new head of government, a move likely to prompt China to maintain its military, diplomatic and economic threats against the island.
Hadley was joined by former Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, who affirmed bipartisan support for Taiwan “based on our unofficial but warm relationship, our insistence on exclusively peaceful means to address the cross (Taiwan Strait) issues, the importance of dialogue and the avoidance of unilateral efforts to change the status quo.”
Tsai said following the election that Taiwan’s “need to continue to progress and move forward remains unchanged.”
“We hope that Taiwan-U.S. relations continue to advance and serve as a key driving force in regional and global prosperity and development,” she said.
Despite having cut official diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, the U.S. remains the island’s chief diplomatic ally and source of military hardware and intelligence.
Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections have always been a source of contention between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait that divided amid civil war in 1949, amplifying the difference between Taiwan’s free-wheeling democratic process and China’s strict Communist Party authoritarian rule.
That divide is a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations that potentially risks leading to an actual war in the future, accentuated by China’s claim to virtually the entire South China Sea and competition for markets and diplomatic influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lai’s victory was a setback for China’s efforts to bring Taiwan under its control. His Democratic Progressive Party advocates maintaining the status quo of de-facto independence, under which the island’s 23 million people carry Taiwanese passports, maintain their own government and defense and issue their own currency, but are denied recognition at the United Nations in deference to China.
China has refused to acknowledge the result of the election, which left the legislature closely divided between the DPP and the Nationalists, also known as the Kuomintang or KMT. China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the election that “the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair” and “the basic fact that ... Taiwan is part of China will not change.”
Taiwan said Beijing’s position “is completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values. Such cliches are not worth refuting.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, prompting the Chinese Foreign Ministry to say that message “sends a gravely wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces” and goes against a U.S. commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Lai’s victory means the Democratic Progressive Party will hold the presidency for a third four-year term, following eight years under Tsai. Lai won a three-way race for president with 40% of the vote, less than the clear majority Tsai won in 2020. He will take office in May.
___
Associated Press video journalist Johnson Lai contributed to this report.
veryGood! (23827)
Related
- 'Most Whopper
- Defense Department civilian to remain jailed awaiting trial on mishandling classified documents
- 1 officer dead, 2 officers injured in Dallas shooting; suspect dead, police say
- Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson breaks another Kickstarter record with Cosmere RPG
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Dwyane Wade Admits He and Gabrielle Union Had “Hard” Year in Tenth Anniversary Message
- Tom Hanks Warns Fans Not to Be Swindled by Wonder Drug Scheme Using His Image
- Alabama anti-DEI law shuts Black Student Union office, queer resource center at flagship university
- Southern California rocked by series of earthquakes: Is a bigger one brewing?
- Suspect in abduction and sexual assault of 9-year-old girl dies in car crash while fleeing police
Ranking
- The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
- Conservative group plans to monitor voting drop box locations in Arizona
- Michigan's Sherrone Moore among college football coaches without a signed contract
- Jaw-Dropping Old Navy Labor Day Sale: Tanks for $4, Jumpsuits for $12, and More Deals Up to 70% Off
- A New York Appellate Court Rejects a Broad Application of the State’s Green Amendment
- White House pressured Facebook to remove misinformation during pandemic, Zuckerberg says
- Lea Michele Gives First Look at Baby Daughter Emery
- What to know about Johnny Gaudreau, Blue Jackets All-Star killed in biking accident
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Artem Chigvintsev Previously Accused of Kicking Strictly Come Dancing Partner
No criminal charges for driver in school bus crash that killed 6-year-old, mother
A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Known as ‘Johnny Hockey,’ Johnny Gaudreau was an NHL All-Star and a top U.S. player internationally
Vinnie Pasquantino injury: Royals lose slugger for stretch run after bizarre play
First look at 'Jurassic World Rebirth': See new cast Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey