Taiwan rejects China’s ‘one country, two systems’ rule. China strongly objects to Pompeo's praise for Taiwan president

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Tsai Ing-wen, 63, sworn-in as president of island state for second term after she won January election

Tsai Ing-wen was on Wednesday sworn-in as the president of Taiwan for the second consecutive term to rule the island state for the next four years.

Tsai, 63, is Taiwan’s seventh but the first female president who is holding the presidential office for fifteenth term.

She represents the Democratic Progressive Party and won with over 8 million votes in the January election.

In her inaugural address to a downsized audience maintaining social distancing measures, Tsai rejected Beijing’s “one country, two systems” rule.

"I want to reiterate the words peace, parity, democracy, and dialogue. We will not accept the Beijing authorities' use of 'one country, two systems' to downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-strait status quo. We stand fast by this principle."

However, she added that Taiwan was ready to engage in dialogue with China for "more concrete contributions to regional security" amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

"I am honored to once again take on the responsibility entrusted to me by the Taiwanese people as the president. I know that no matter the challenges we may face, we will stand together in freedom, democracy, and solidarity," she said.

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Beijing has expressed its “strong indignation” after the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, sent a message hailing the re-elected Taiwanese president’s “courage and vision” to be read at her inauguration ceremony.

Dr Tsai Ing-wen secured a second term with a landslide win in January, a rebuke of Beijing’s ongoing campaign to isolate the island, which it claims as its own and vows it will be brought under control by force if necessary.

Pompeo said Tsai’s “courage and vision in leading Taiwan’s vibrant democracy [was] an inspiration to the region and the world”, in remarks Taiwan described as the first delivered to a Taiwanese president by a US secretary of state.

China’s foreign ministry said Pompeo’s act had severely damaged peace and stability in the strait between Taiwan and China. It warned it would take “necessary countermeasures” and the US would have to bear the consequences, but did not elaborate.

Tsai said in her inauguration address that celebrated the self-governing island’s successful fight against coronavirus that Taiwan would not accept attempts by China to “downgrade” its status and pledged to stand up to pressure from Beijing.

Last Edited by money$$$ on 05/20/2020 08:47 AM