Taiwan president defiant after China calls for reunification

Record ID: 1370210

  • Title: Taiwan president defiant after China calls for reunification
  • Date: 2nd January 2019
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (JANUARY 2, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE TSAI ING-WEN WALKING TO LECTERN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT, TSAI ING-WEN, SAYING: "First of all, I must solemnly point out that we have never accepted the '92 Consensus'. The simple reason for this is that the '92 Consensus' as defined by the Beijing authorities really means 'one China' and 'one country, two systems'. Today's speech by China's leader has confirmed our doubts. Here, I want to reiterate that Taiwan will never accept 'one country, two systems'. The majority of the Taiwanese public also resolutely oppose 'one country, two systems'. This is the 'Taiwan consensus'." MEDIA FILMING TSAI TALKING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT, TSAI ING-WEN, SAYING: "The values of democracy are the ideals and way of life cherished by Taiwan's people. We call on China to bravely step out onto the path of democracy. Only then can they truly understand the persistence and ideals of the Taiwanese people." TSAI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TAIWAN'S FLAG FLYING BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 2, 2019) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG ARRIVING FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, SAYING: "This bill seriously breaches the 'one China' principle and the China-U.S. three joint communiqués. It rudely interferes with China's internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and strong opposition to the U.S.'s stubborn signing of this bill. We have already made stern representations to the U.S. over this. JOURNALISTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, SAYING: "We urge the U.S. to adhere to the 'one China' principle and the China-U.S. three joint communiqués, to not implement the relevant content of this bill and to carefully handle Taiwan-related issues so as not to damage wider Sino-U.S. relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan strait." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2019 09:42
  • Keywords: Taiwan China cross-strait independence reunification Tsai In-wen Taiwan president one China
  • Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0019VG6H51
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday (January 2) the island will never accept a "one country, two systems" political arrangement with China, after Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech that Beijing reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but will strive for peaceful "reunification".
    Taiwan is China's most sensitive issue and is claimed by Beijing as its sacred territory. Xi has stepped up pressure on the democratic island since Tsai from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016.
    Tsai rejected Xi's call and instead urged China to embrace democracy.
    In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang told journalists that the U.S.' signing into law on Monday (December 31) the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act which reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Taiwan, "interferes with China's internal affairs". Lu urged Washington not to implement the contents of the law so as not to "damage wider Sino-U.S. relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan strait".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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