33 min listen
Beijing’s Response to Taiwan’s Election
FromChina Global
ratings:
Length:
30 minutes
Released:
Jan 23, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
On January 13, 2024, voters in Taiwan elected the DPP’s Lai Ching-te the next president of Taiwan. Lai won 40% of the votes–a plurality, but not a majority. In his acceptance speech, Lai pledged to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China. He also said that he has an important responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and reiterated a statement that the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, made 8 years ago: that he would act in accordance with the Republic of China constitutional order.Beijing expected that Lai would win and was therefore well prepared. The statement, issued by the Taiwan Affairs Office shortly after the final tally was announced, emphasized that the election result would not change the trend of cross-Strait relations and said that reunification remained inevitable. It also warned against Taiwan independence and foreign interference. This episode focuses on China’s perspectives on the election and its likely reaction going forward. Host Bonnie Glaser is joined by Rick Waters, who is managing director of Eurasia Group’s China practice. He has served 27 years as a career diplomat, most recently as the inaugural head of the State Department’s Office of China Coordination and Deputy Secretary of State for China and Taiwan. Time Stamps[01:56] Interpreting Beijing’s Statements[03:40] Views of the State Security Ministry[04:38] Poaching Taiwan’s Diplomatic Ally Nauru[06:53] Threat of Tariff Imposition[08:37] Impact of Woodside Summit on Beijing’s Response[10:02] What role do the Chinese want the Americans to play?[11:13] Assessing the Efficacy of Chinese Policy Toward Taiwan[13:40] Unofficial American Delegation Visiting Taiwan[15:02] Post-Election Comment from President Biden[16:26] Clarifying the US One-China Policy[19:48] Xi Jinping’s Statements to Biden about Taiwan[23:14] Is reunification a legacy issue for Xi Jinping?[24:49] What are the most important variables moving forward?[27:00] China and Peaceful Unification
Released:
Jan 23, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (76)
Lithuania's ties with China Sour, and Warm with Taiwan: On August 10th, the People’s Republic of China recalled its ambassador to Lithuania and demanded Vilnius recall its representative to Beijing. The reason? Lithuania’s decision to allow Taipei to open a representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwanese Representative Office." Sino-Lithuanian relations started deteriorating in 2019. That year, Vilnius identified Chinese espionage as a threat to its national security. Since then, Lithuania has opposed the Hong Kong National Security Law at the UN Human Rights Council, withdrawn from the China-led 17+1 grouping, and criticized PRC policies in Xinjiang. In the meantime, Vilnius’ ties with Taiwan are warming. The new coalition government in Vilnius announced in November 2020 that it would follow a values-based foreign policy. Leaders pledged to “oppose any violation of human rights and democratic freedoms…from Belarus to Taiwan.” In addition to Taiwan’s plans to open a diploma by China Global