Want China Times
Op-Ed
Date: 2015-06-13
By: Wang Kun-yi

Tsai Ing-wen, chair and presidential candidate of the Taiwan’s major opposition Democratic

Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech at the Center of Strategic and International Studies in Washington, June 3, (Photo/Wang Chueh-wei)

Progressive Party (DPP), recently returned from a 12-day visit to the United States, where she laid out her platform for her presidential run in 2016. The US accorded her VIP treatment, which likely raised some eyebrows in China and among the leadership of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang.

First, Tsai delivered a speech to a prominent US think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in which she stated that once elected as president, she will push for cross-strait policy under the current constitutional system of the Republic of China (ROC) and make an effort to bridge partisan political divides within Taiwan. This has been interpreted by some in the DPP-led pan-green camp as giving up the Taiwan Independence party platform.

This may be overinterpreting her comments, however, as, in the past, when former DPP chair Frank Hsieh advocated for a “constitutional one China”, China didn’t issue any response. As Tsai’s rhetoric is lacking in concrete content, it’s unlikely it will have a significant effect on DPP policy.     [FULL  STORY]