Tsai Seeks to Downplay Criticism on Cross-Strait Relations|柯文哲稱兩岸關係30年最差 蔡英文回擊

Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu recently boasted that relations between Taiwan and the United States are the best they've been in 40 years. Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je was not convinced, retorting that relations with China are the worst they've been in 30 years. President Tsai Ing-wen also waded into the discussion.


President Tsai Ing-wen shook hands with attendees at the opening ceremony of the Yushan Forum on Oct. 8. In her speech, she lauded the outstanding results of her administration's New Southbound Policy, mentioning that a record-breaking five million tourists visited Taiwan in 2018 and emphasizing that the trade volume of Taiwan's companies exceeded US$10 billion during the past three years, the first in Southeast Asia. She also boasted the policy has an enormously stabilizing effect on the entire region and Taiwan should not be politically repressed.

China's efforts to isolate Taiwan have done nothing but hinder regional prosperity and stability, and the international community of like-minded countries has grown, has shown time and again that it is willing to stand, to stand beside Taiwan.

Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je recently pointed out that cross-strait relations are the worst they've been in 30 years. Tsai responded that there is no good or bad in cross-strait relations, only Taiwan's interests.

Under the threat of China's oncoming advance, we strive to be neither provocative nor aggressive. However, we stand firm in our country's position. On the contrary, China is using tourists as a political strategy.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Annette Lu described Tsai as a "lucky Wu Zetian" for her obedience to others. When asked about this statement, Tsai sought not to add fuel to the fire.

(What do you think of this comparison to a luckier Wu Zetian?) Okay. Does anyone else have a question? If no one does, we'll just leave it at that.

Tsai is hoping to highlight her achievements to seek reelection. Meanwhile, former Premier William Lai and Democratic Progressive Party Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan are both scheduled to travel to the United States to campaign for the party in an effort to win votes. Tsai said both of them are very experienced and will know what to do.



和貴賓一一握手，總統蔡英文出席玉山論壇開幕式，致詞時表示政府推動新南向政策成效顯著，觀光產業部分，去年旅客互訪破紀錄，創下500萬人次，還特別強調，台灣企業的貿易量在過去三年，超過100億美元，是東南亞首選，對區域穩定有極大幫助，不該被政治壓迫。

總統 蔡英文表示：「中國孤立台灣的舉動，只會損害區域的繁榮與發展，國際社會如各位這些國家，不斷的表現出支持台灣，並且認同我們在印太地區的重要角色，作為這個區域的重要夥伴。」

對於兩岸關係被柯文哲反酸目前是30年來最差，蔡總統強調，兩岸關係沒有好壞的問題，只有我們國家利益的問題。

總統 蔡英文表示：「在中國步步進逼的情況下，我們採取不挑釁、不冒進，但是我們堅守我們國家的立場，倒是中國在以大陸觀光客，作為他的一個政治手段。」

全力拚選舉之際，前副總統呂秀蓮則在媒體專訪，批評蔡英文服從威權，是「幸運的武則天」，對此蔡英文保持低調，要避免衍生更多爭議。

總統蔡英文表示：「（比較幸運的武則天，總統怎麼看這樣的比喻？) 好啦！有沒有下一題？沒有的話就先這樣。」

迎戰2020大選，蔡總統拚國政尋求連任，而行政院前院長賴清德、民進黨副秘書長林飛帆，也將分別赴美，替綠營拉票，蔡總統肯定兩人很有經驗，一定知道怎麼做。