Taiwan accuses China of ‘serious challenge’ to peace and stability
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urges Beijing to play a positive role in region amid tension
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of “seriously challenging” peace and stability on Wednesday, describing the island as being on the frontline of tensions in the Pacific. It comes as Beijing pursues a multipronged attack on any claim to sovereignty by self-ruled democratic Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary. Relations between Beijing and Taipei have deteriorated since Tsai took office two years ago, as the president refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”. “As Taiwan is on the frontline of the Western Pacific, we are naturally subject to tremendous pressure,” Tsai said in a televised speech to mark Taiwan’s National day. “China’s unilateral diplomatic offensive and military coercion have not only harmed cross-strait relations. They have also seriously challenged the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign country and has an independent political s...
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