Taiwan president calls for thaw in ties with mainland China
Tsai Ing-wen’s comments came after new leadership was revealed in Beijing, which has severed relations with Taiwan and its independence-leaning governing party
Taiwan and mainland China need to drop historical baggage to seek a breakthrough in cross-straits relations, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said in her first public comments since the Communist Party unveiled a new leadership line-up.
Relations nosedived after Tsai, who leads the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, took office last year, with Beijing suspecting that she wants to push for the island’s formal independence, a red line for Beijing.
Beijing has suspended a regular dialogue mechanism with Taipei established under Taiwan’s previous, mainland-friendly government and there has been a dramatic fall in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan under Tsai’s administration.
“Right now is a turning point for change. I once again call on leaders of both sides to … seek a breakthrough in cross-straits relations and to benefit the long-term welfare of people on both sides and to forever eliminate hostilities and conflict,” Tsai told a cross-straits forum.
