Reuters
Date: May 20, 2016
By: J.R. Wu AND Faith Hung
Taiwan’s new president urged China on Friday to “drop the baggage of history” in an
First female president takes office in Taiwan
otherwise conciliatory inauguration speech that Beijing’s Communist Party rulers had been watching for any move towards independence.
President Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in with Taiwan’s export-driven economy on the ropes and China, which views the self-ruled island as its own, looking across the Taiwan Strait for anti-Beijing sentiment that could further sour economic ties.
Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has traditionally favored independence, won parliamentary and presidential elections by a landslide in January and takes over after eight years under China-friendly Nationalist Ma Ying-jeou.
Tsai, Taiwan’s first female president, said Taiwan would play a responsible role and be a “staunch guardian of peace” in its relationship with China.
“Cross-Strait relations have become an integral part of building regional peace and collective security,” she told thousands outside the presidential office.
“The two governing parties across the Strait must set aside the baggage of history and engage in positive dialogue for the benefit of the people on both sides.” [FULL STORY]
