Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's set to mark her first year in office

Record ID: 876431

  • Title: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's set to mark her first year in office
  • Date: 18th May 2017
  • Summary: KINMEN, TAIWAN (FILE - DECEMBER 31, 2000) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THEN CHAIRWOMAN OF TAIWAN'S MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL, TSAI ING-WEN, WALKING In 2000, Tsai Ing-wen toured the Taiwanese island of Kinmen after being appointed chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's main organ dealing with relations with China. This was her first high-profile government position, before being elected as a legislator after joining the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2004. TAICHUNG, TAIWAN (FILE - DECEMBER 20, 2009) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS HOLDING RALLY TO OPPOSE FREE-TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA THEN CHAIRWOMAN OF TAIWAN'S DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY (DPP), TSAI ING-WEN, STANDING AMONG PROTESTERS TSAI WALKING WITH PROTESTERS PROTESTERS FILLING ONE SIDE OF ROAD After being appointed chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2008, then in the opposition, Tsai repeatedly voiced criticism towards the ruling Kuomintang party, saying President Ma Ying-jeou's fast pace shift towards Beijing was the major source of public uneasiness. Ma's administration had been pushing to pass a free-trade agreement with China, a move widely protested across the island. TAIPEI, TAIWAN (FILE - MAY 20, 2010) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS SITTING IN FRONT OF STAGE TSAI GIVING SPEECH ON STAGE PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS READING (Chinese): "I WANT TO DECIDE MY OWN HAPPINESS, HOLD A REFERENDUM ON ECFA (ECONOMIC COOPERATION FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT)" VARIOUS OF TSAI SEATED AMONG PROTESTERS Taiwan's main opposition party leaders staged a three-day sit-in to demand a referendum on signing key trade deals with China, warning that the so called Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which was advocated by the Ma administration, would flood Taiwan with cheap Chinese goods, putting small business people out of work.
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2017 01:35
  • Keywords: Tsai Ing-wen president Taiwan
  • Location: KINMEN, TAICHUNG, TAIPEI, NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIPEI CITY, TAOYUAN, KAOHSIUNG CITY, TAIWAN / HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES / TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS / GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • City: KINMEN, TAICHUNG, TAIPEI, NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIPEI CITY, TAOYUAN, KAOHSIUNG CITY, TAIWAN / HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES / TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS / GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016HE8X8L
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen is completing her first year in office on Saturday (May 20) as tensions with China fail to ease.
    During her tenure, Taiwan has seen cooling relations with China as Tsai and her Democratic Progress Party (DPP) have been reluctant to acknowledge the so-called "1992 consensus" that Beijing insists on as a prerequisite for smooth relations with the self-ruled island. The "1992 consensus" defines Taiwan as part of "One China" allowing for both sides of the Taiwan Straits to have their own interpretations as to what that means.
    Tsai Ing-wen's has made several trips to allied nations since taking office, notably stopping over in the U.S. on a trip to meet with allies in Latin America earlier this year. This has angered Beijing, prompting it to demand the U.S. to prevent such arrangements in the future.
    As Taiwan is taking a more assertive stance on the international stage, alongside with a push to produce submarines and eventually military aircraft indigenously, China increases pressure on its administration by trying to limit Taiwan's international space.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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