Lai Setting Himself Apart from Tsai with Political Platform|民進黨總統初選 蔡賴對決隔空較勁

President Tsai Ing-wen gave a simultaneous speech at three Washington D.C. think tanks to mark the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. Tsai said she hopes to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the US to prevent China from using economic means to frighten Taiwan. Meanwhile, former Premier William Lai wrote on Facebook that if he has the chance to lead Taiwan, he would absolutely safeguard Taiwan-US ties. The Democratic Progressive Party's presidential primary pits Tsai against Lai and both are currently campaigning on domestic politics and Taiwan-US relations.


At the invitation of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, President Tsai Ing-wen gave a simultaneous speech to three Washington think tanks on the 9th. Tsai was asked by scholar Richard Bush how she plans to improve trade relations between Taiwan and the US. In response, she referenced US President Donald Trump's economic security policy and said she hopes the two sides can sign a trade agreement that would prevent China from using economic means to intimidate Taiwan.

And we have the potential to work together in crafting a trade agreement that can become a model for the rest of Indo-Pacific region. And it goes without saying that by entering into a BTA -- that is bilateral trade agreement -- with United States, we open the door for other possibilities down the road.

Noting this year is the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, Tsai said Taiwan is the frontline against the expansion of totalitarianism. She also said China poses a challenge to her government with the way it won't allow Taiwan any international space and with its military aircraft recently crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

This is not a challenge that a DPP administration faces. This is a challenge that Taiwan's democratically elected administration faces.

Tsai then called on the US to protect Taiwan's democracy and support Taiwan's right to participate in international affairs. Former Premier William Lai, meanwhile, wrote on Facebook that he would safeguard Taiwan-US relations in no uncertain terms if he had the chance to lead Taiwan. He also said there needs to be closer cooperation between Taiwan and the US because China won't rule out the use of force against Taiwan and continues to suppress Taiwan in the international community with talk of unification and "one country, two systems." On the 9th, Lai discussed cross-strait issues on a livestreamed interview.

During the era of the two Chiangs, the fight was against the Mainland and unifying China. That Republic of China existed. Now, the unification advocated by these grandchildren of the two Chiangs is "being unified." This would mean the Republic of China would cease to exist.

Lai said the Democratic Progressive Party is the one actually safeguarding the Republic of China by advocating Taiwan independence. The former premier is on a mission to set himself apart from Tsai with his political platform, and the DPP's presidential primary is heating up as a result.



總統蔡英文受邀和華府「戰略暨國際研究中心」等三個智庫連線，發表專題演說，學者卜睿哲詢問蔡總統，如何強化台美經貿關係。蔡總統回應，呼應美國川普總統的「經濟安全」，希望洽簽雙邊貿易協定，避免中國用經濟手段脅迫台灣。

總統 蔡英文表示：「雙方有共同合作打造貿易協定的潛力，這樣子的協定可以作為印太區域的模範，更不用說與美國洽簽雙邊貿易協定BTA，可以讓台灣開啟大門迎接未來的機會。」

今年是台灣關係法四十週年，蔡總統利用機會，表達台灣正處於極權主義擴張的最前線，中國否決台灣國際空間，中國軍機更跨越台海中線，是對我方政府的挑戰。

總統 蔡英文表示：「這並不是民進黨政府面對的挑戰，而是台灣的民選政府面對的挑戰。」

蔡總統向美方喊話，繼續為台灣參與國際事務發聲，守護台灣民主。前行政院長賴清德一早也在臉書發文，表明如果有機會帶領台灣，絕對會全力捍衛台美情誼，面對中國從來不放棄對台動武的威脅，以及不斷用統一和一國兩制打壓台灣國際空間，促使台美必須更緊密合作，賴清德9號在知名網紅館長的直播節目也談到，敏感的兩岸議題。

前行政院長 賴清德表示：「兩蔣時代是要反攻大陸統一中國，那個中華民國是存在的，現在兩蔣的這些徒子徒孫，他們主張的統一卻是被統，那麼中華民國就沒有了。」

賴清德認為，主張台獨的民進黨，才是真正捍衛中華民國，從台灣主權到美台關係，賴清德不斷拋出他的政策理念，和蔡總統隔空較勁，也讓民進黨的總統初選話題不斷。