DPP Chair Tsai Ing-wen's reponse to the Obama-Hu Joint Press Conference

DPP Chairwoman Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen's Response to the Obama-Hu Joint Press Conference

November 17, 2009

Concerning the statements made by U.S. President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in their joint press conference, DPP Chairwoman Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen said she believed that the U.S. reiteration of the Taiwan Relations Act as a basic text of US policy was an affirmation of protection for Taiwan's security, and this is meaningful for the stability of cross-strait relations and regional security. Chairwoman Tsai said she believes that the U.S. use the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act as a base for continuing to provide the defense weaponry necessary for Taiwan's defense.

Nevertheless, it is regretful that that the U.S. stated that it "respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" without making specific clarification of the reality that Taiwan does not belong to China, and ignoring the fact that Taiwan's 23 million people are living under the military threat of 1,400 missiles. Chairwoman Tsai reiterated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, and this is a reality that no country can deny.

Chairwoman Tsai expressed the DPP’s welcome of a healthy cooperative relationship established between the U.S. and China, and their joining together in their efforts to bring regional prosperity and stability, especially in the strengthening of economies and trade, climate change, energy and cooperation in human rights and religious freedom, but she hopes that, in this relationship, China is capable of improving its human rights and religious freedom, and lastly abandoning its military threat against Taiwan by really bringing regional stability and peace.

DPP Chair Tsai Ing-wen's reponse to the Obama-Hu Joint Press Conference