Taiwan experts and diplomats say Tsai as a leader is Taiwan’s safest option: Financial Times
Taiwan experts and diplomats say Tsai as a leader is Taiwan’s safest option: Financial Times
2022-08-12
In the face of China’s military threats, President Tsai Ing-wen is "the leader Taiwan needed," according to the U.K.’s Financial Times, quoting an American Taiwan scholar. Shelley Rigger, a professor at Davidson College in the U.S., who is a noted Taiwan expert, said President Tsai was subdued, prudent, thoughtful and cautious. She added that Taiwan’s situation is so difficult that a "normal" politician will often fall short in addressing it. The FT also noted that both foreign diplomats and political analysts were adamant that Tsai represented the safest option for Taiwan.
Tsai Ing-wen
President
The most important reason why I came to our Air Force Combatant Command is to show my appreciation for everyone’s hard work. Especially during this period of time, the tasks of each unit are very onerous. On behalf of all our compatriots, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone.
On Thursday afternoon, President Tsai Ing-wen came to the Air Force Combatant Command. After listening to a briefing from a commander, she boosted the morale of air defense units and various squadrons of fighter pilots via videoconference.
Tsai Ing-wen
President
The determination of each of you to defend your homeland, has not only deeply moved me, but is also deeply felt by all our nation’s compatriots. I want all our colleagues to continue to maintain their high morale so that the whole world can see that R.O.C. military will not yield an inch in protecting our sovereign lands and its unwavering resolve in upholding freedom and democracy.
Besides encouraging the troops, President Tsai also stressed that the current threat from China had not gone away.
Tsai Ing-wen
President
At present, China has not lowered its threat of military force. I want to stress once more that we will not escalate conflicts, nor will we provoke disputes. We will firmly defend sovereignty and national security and defend our democracy and freedom.
On Thursday alone, 21 Chinese war planes flew close to Taiwan, with 11 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. As tensions in the region escalate, the Financial Times, quoting Shelley Rigger, a Taiwan expert at Davidson College, wrote: “She is the leader Taiwan needed. Taiwan’s situation is so difficult that a ‘normal’ politician will often fall short in addressing it. Tsai is subdued, prudent, thoughtful and cautious.”
The prestigious British newspaper also noted that Tsai was no “nationalist hothead” and during her six year tenure as president had clearly exhibited a leadership style of a professional bureaucrat. The paper quoted diplomats and analysts as saying that for a fragile Taiwan, Tsai, known for her prudence, was Taiwan’s "safest option."
In the face of non-stop Chinese military threats, President Tsai’s leadership style is attracting international media attention.
台灣處境艱難 英金融時報:蔡總統是最安全選項
2022-08-12
中國文攻武嚇不斷，英國金融時報10號撰文指出，台灣需要蔡英文這種領袖，蔡英文溫和、謹慎且深思熟慮，台灣的處境艱難，一個"典型"的政治人物無法應對，更提到，以謹慎著稱的蔡英文，將是台灣"最安全選項"。
[[總統 蔡英文]]
“來到我們空軍作戰指揮部，最重要的目的就是要來慰勞大家的辛勞，尤其這段時間 各單位的任務都很繁重，我代表全體的國人同胞向大家致上最深的感謝。”
總統蔡英文週四下午來到空軍作戰指揮部，聽取指揮官簡報後，透過視訊，慰勉防空部與各飛行聯隊。
[[總統 蔡英文]]
“各位保家衛國的決心，不僅深深感動了我，全體的國人同胞也都深刻的感受到。我要請全體同仁繼續保持高昂的士氣，讓全世界看到中華民國國軍，對國土主權寸土不讓，自由民主堅守不退的決心。”
除了勉勵國軍，也強調當前中國武力的威脅並未降低。
[[總統 蔡英文]]
“當前中國武力威脅並未降低，我要再次強調，我們不會升高衝突，我們也不會挑起爭端，我們會堅定的捍衛主權和國家安全，堅守民主自由的防線。”
光是週四，就有21架中國軍機擾台，其中11架穿越海峽中線。台海危機升高，英國金融時報近日撰文引用學者Shelley Rigger說法：台灣需要蔡英文這種領袖，蔡英文溫和、謹慎且深思熟慮，台灣的處境艱難，一個"典型"的政治人物往往無法應對。
金融時報也提到，蔡英文並非民族主義狂熱分子，擔任總統6年，還有明顯的專業官員風格，對脆弱的台灣而言，謹慎著稱的蔡英文，是台灣「最安全選項」。
面對中國文攻武嚇不斷，蔡英文的領導風格，也引發國際媒體關注。
Related News
