President Tsai Ing-wen calls for dialogue with China. (Photo : Getty Images)
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivered her first National Day speech since taking office. She called for peace and sovereignty while engaging in a dialogue with the mainland.
"The two sides of the Strait should sit down and talk as soon as possible," Tsai said in her address, referring to the Taiwan Strait.
She added, "On cross-strait relations, I once again reiterate the immovable position of the new government, and that is to establish a consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship, and to maintain both Taiwan's democracy and the status quo of peace across the Taiwan Strait."
She also asserted that her stand on China-Taiwan relations has not changed. She assured the people that her nationalist position is still intact.
She said, "Maintaining the status quo is the pledge I made to voters. Not a single sentence from my inaugural address on May 20 has ever changed."
"The new government will conduct cross-strait affairs in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China, the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and other relevant legislation. And we will spare no effort in maintaining mechanisms for dialogue and communication across the Taiwan Strait," she asserted.
The president stressed that her government will not bow down to pressure at the same time, she will also use democratic means to resolve issues with China. She stressed that her approach will be different from the previous administration.
"Our pledges will not change, and our goodwill will not change. But we will not bow to pressure, and we will of course not revert to the old path of confrontation," she said.
Upon concluding the topic on China, she called to the government to start the discussion on their relations.
She said, "I call upon the authorities of mainland China to face up to the reality that the Republic of China exists, and that the people of Taiwan have an unshakable faith in the democratic system."
