DPP’s Lai says he has US support, ‘won’t let war break out’

2023-08-08

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te went on the record in a Monday television interview, addressing issues from Taiwan independence to war with China. Lai said he has Washington’s support and that if elected, he won’t let war happen across the strait. The candidate also spelled out his views on Taiwan independence. Here is Lai in his own words.

In a TV interview, DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te explained what it means to be a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence.”

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
As a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” I look at the facts. And the facts are: Taiwan is not part of the People’s Republic of China, and the PRC and R.O.C. are not affiliated with one another. Being a “worker” means that my role is protect Taiwan. Especially now that I’m running for president, my role is to protect Taiwan and promote democracy, peace, and prosperity in Taiwan. That’s my mission.

Lai stressed that his approach was based on facts. To him, Taiwan independence means Taiwan having sovereignty over its own land and not being part of the PRC.

Lai rejected the rival camp’s claim that “a vote for the DPP is a vote for sending youth to war.”

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
I won’t let war break out. I will do my utmost to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In this election, the opposition party is echoing Chinese propaganda. If you give up Taiwan’s sovereignty by accepting the “one China” principle, even if you achieve a temporary peace, it is not a true peace. The approach that’s been proposed by the KMT – can it achieve true peace? Their approach is to accept the “1992 Consensus.” Doing this cannot achieve peace and may even lead Taiwan into a more serious conflict.

Lai said the KMT was using war as a campaign tactic. He emphasized that it was possible to engage in dialogue with China – while protecting Taiwan’s interests.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
We must not fail to distinguish friend from foe. We cannot, for the sake of an election, deny the fact that the U.S. has helped Taiwan, and push away our longstanding friend and best partner. That would be unwise. At the same time, there are rumors that Washington is skeptical toward me. But we need only see the global landscape to know whether the U.S. prefers a pro-China regime in Taiwan or a democratic, U.S.-friendly government.

Speaking on issues from Taiwan independence to U.S. support, Lai moved to counter his critics and set the record straight.

兩岸"台獨"認知不同賴清德:我不會讓戰爭發生

2023-08-08

民進黨總統參選人賴清德，接受媒體專訪，解釋什麼是"務實台獨工作者"，並強調兩岸對"台獨"認知並不同，此外對於台灣內部的"疑美論"，以及"白宮疑賴論"說法，賴清德直言美國是要親中還是友美台灣政府，這並不難分辨。

接受媒體專訪，賴清德對於被稱"務實台獨工作者"好好解釋。

[[民進黨總統參選人賴清德]]
“所謂務實就是根據事實。事實上台灣不屬於中華人民共和國的一部分，中華民國和中華人民共和國互不隸屬。工作者就是守護台灣，尤其是現在要參選總統，我是守護台灣，促進台灣的民主、和平跟繁榮，這個就是我的使命。”

強調"務實"是根據事實，"台獨"是台灣人擁有土地所有權，台灣主權不屬於中華人民共和國。

賴德清也反駁在野黨狂打的，「票投民進黨，青年上戰場。」

[[民進黨總統參選人賴清德]]
“我不會讓戰爭發生，我會竭盡我所能，維持台海和平穩定，在野黨在這次面對這場選舉，也會跟中國的宣傳做呼應，你如果先放棄了台灣的主權，你接受一個中國的原則，你即便得到短暫的和緩，那個也不是真的和平。目前國民黨所提出來的方法，是不是能夠得到真正的和平？他們的方法就是接受九二共識，完全沒辦法得到和平，也可能會帶給台灣更嚴重的戰爭。”

滿在野黨操作戰爭牌，但也強調可以在守護台灣的前提下，與中國交流。

[[民進黨總統參選人賴清德]]
“我們不能夠敵我不分啦，為了一時選舉的必要，然後否定美國對台灣的幫助，把長期的友人、最好的夥伴把它推開，這個是不智的。無獨有偶也有疑賴論，我們只要想想國際情勢不難了解，就美國而言美國的立場上，它希望台灣的政權是一個親中政權，還是走向民主國家，友美的政權。”

從台獨說到疑美、疑賴論，賴清德一一說明、反駁，不讓有心人士繼續操作。