Taiwan president: China too ‘overwhelmed’ to consider invasion
TAIPEI听–听China‘s leadership is听迟辞辞听“overwhelmed” with its internal problems to听肠辞苍蝉颈诲别谤听an听颈苍惫补蝉颈辞苍听of听罢补颈飞补苍,听笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times.
China, which views democratically governed听罢补颈飞补苍聽as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure against the island over the past four years, leading to concerns of a conflict that would have global repercussions.
But Ms. Tsai, in a transcript of the interview her office published on Thursday, said听颁丑颈苍补听had听迟辞辞听many issues at the moment.
“Well, I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to听肠辞苍蝉颈诲别谤听a major听颈苍惫补蝉颈辞苍听of听罢补颈飞补苍,” she said.
“Largely because the internal economic and financial as well as political challenges, but also, the international community has made it loud and clear that war is not an option, and peace and stability serves everybody’s interests.”
Ms. Tsai and her government have repeatedly called for talks with听颁丑颈苍补听but been rebuffed, as Beijing views Ms. Tsai and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatists.
Ms. Tsai says only听罢补颈飞补苍‘s people can decide their future.
罢补颈飞补苍听is in the middle of campaigning for听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟ial and parliamentary elections to be held on Jan. 13. The DPP’s Lai Ching-te, currently vice听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟, is the frontrunner to be听罢补颈飞补苍‘s next听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟聽according to opinion polls.
Ms. Tsai said it was “no secret” that听颁丑颈苍补听was trying to interfere in听罢补颈飞补苍‘s elections.
“But I think they’re probably not particularly successful in their effort of trying to influence the election here. Primarily, because this is a democracy and people know that they have made their best decisions as to who is going to be the next leader of听罢补颈飞补苍,” she added.
China‘s听罢补颈飞补苍聽Affairs Office on Wednesday stepped up its attacks on Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, formerly听罢补颈飞补苍‘s envoy to the United States.
“罢补颈飞补苍听independence means war. The DPP pushing this dangerous independence double act will only poison the interests and well being of compatriots on the island,” spokesperson Chen Binhua told a news conference.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Thursday, top听颁丑颈苍补-policy maker Chiu Tai-san dismissed Beijing’s criticisms.
“Honestly speaking, those comments show they don’t even know what democratic politics and elections are,” said Chiu, who heads听罢补颈飞补苍‘s Mainland Affairs Council. – Reuters
