On New Year, Taiwan, China leaders offer contrasting visions of future

2024-01-05

Chinese President Xi Jinping has renewed his threat to take over Taiwan, while Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen called for peaceful coexistence with Beijing. The two leaders’ New Year comments come just ahead of the Taiwan presidential election that could have a big impact on Taiwan-China relations. Voice of America’s Bill Gallo reports from Taipei.

Ringing in the New Year in Taiwan. A festive mood. But plenty of uncertainty ahead of an election that will shape the future of this democratic island.

In a New Year speech, President Tsai Ing-wen called for Taiwan to safeguard peace and democracy.

Tsai Ing-wen
Taiwan president
We also hope the two sides will jointly seek a long-term and stable way of peaceful coexistence under peace, parity, democracy and dialogue.

In Beijing, a different vision. President Xi Jinping renewed China’s threat to take over Taiwan.

Xi Jinping
China president
China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On the streets of Taipei, there’s virtually no appetite for what Xi is proposing.

Wu Kuan
Taipei resident
I don’t want to be a part of China. I think of myself as Taiwanese. I’m not Chinese.

Sean Chen
Taipei resident
For me, Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China. It’s too different.

Wilbur Su
Taipei resident
I think China is China, and Taiwan is Taiwan. I feel right now it is good. We don’t need to do any change.

Next week, Taiwan holds a general election. The ruling party candidate holds a slight lead over his opposition rival. The opposition has traditionally supported closer ties with Beijing.

But that position has gotten much harder to maintain, as China increases its military threats against Taiwan.

In recent months, Chinese military aircraft and ships have come closer than ever to Taiwan – a reminder of danger on the horizon.

Bill Gallo, VOA News, Taipei, Taiwan.

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新年賀詞談兩岸蔡:和平、對等、民主、對話習:"祖國統一"

2024-01-05

2024年元旦，中國領導人習近平的新年賀詞，再談統一，總統蔡英文則強調尋求與中國和平共存之道。在接近台灣大選的時刻，蔡英文與習近平的新年談話，都可能成為影響兩岸關係的關鍵因素。來看美國之音的報導。

迎接新的一年，台灣瀰漫著節慶的氣氛。不過在選舉之前，存在大量不確定性，這將塑造這個民主之島的未來。

元旦談話中，總統蔡英文強調捍衛和平與民主。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“我們期盼兩岸儘速恢復健康有序的交流；也期盼以和平、對等、民主、對話，共同尋求兩岸之間長遠穩定的和平共存之道。”

中國方面則是截然不同的觀點。習近平提到兩岸要統一。

[[中國領導人習近平]]
“祖國統一是歷史必然，兩岸同胞要攜手同心，共享民族復興的偉大榮光。”

在台北街訪民眾，對於習近平的主張，顯然沒人買單。

[[台北市民 Wu Kuan]]
“我不想成為中國的一部分，我認為我是台灣人，不是中國人。”

[[台北市民 Sean Chen]]
“對我來說，台灣是台灣，中國是中國，兩者完全不同。”

[[台北市民 Wilbur Su]]
“中國是中國，台灣是台灣。我覺得現在這樣就很好了，不用特別去改變。”

下週，台灣即將舉辦大選。在野黨向來被認為較親中。

但在中國軍事威嚇日益增加之下，親中立場愈來愈站不住腳。

近幾個月以來，中國軍機及軍艦逼近台灣更甚以往，也讓台灣人產生危機感。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00