Current:Home > InvestChina calls Taiwan presidential frontrunner ‘destroyer of peace’-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
China calls Taiwan presidential frontrunner ‘destroyer of peace’
View Date:2024-12-23 19:01:19
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China has slammed Taiwan presidential front-runner William Lai as a “destroyer of peace” following a televised debate on Saturday in which he defended Taiwan’s right to rule itself as a democracy.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai’s discourse at the debate was “full of confrontational thinking.” He said Lai, who currently serves as Taiwan’s vice president with the governing Democratic People’s Party, is “the instigator of a potential dangerous war in the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan split from China amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to regard the island of 23 million with its high-tech economy as Chinese territory and has been ramping up its threat to achieve that by military force if necessary.
Lai on Saturday said he was open to holding talks with Beijing “as long as there is equality and dignity on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.” He said Taiwan is not subordinate to China. While Lai doesn’t describe himself as seeking independence from Beijing, he generally maintains Taiwan is already an independent country.
Lai is running in the Jan. 13 presidential election against candidates Hou Yu-ih from the more China-friendly Kuomintang party, and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party.
veryGood! (67826)
Related
- Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressures
- Albuquerque Police Department Chief crashes into vehicle while avoiding gunfire
- Satellite shows California snow after Pineapple Express, but it didn't replenish snowpack
- Q&A: Everyday Plastics Are Making Us Sick—and Costing Us $250 Billion a Year in Healthcare
- Get $103 Worth of Tatcha Skincare for $43.98 + 70% Off Flash Deals on Elemis, Josie Maran & More
- Driver of stolen tow truck smashes police cruisers during Maryland chase
- Compton man who may have been dog breeder mauled to death by pit bulls in backyard
- Women's NCAA tournament and Caitlin Clark will outshine the men in March
- Beyoncé nominated for album of the year at Grammys — again. Will she finally win?
- 4.7 magnitude earthquake outside of small Texas city among several recently in area
Ranking
- Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
- 'Like NBA Jam': LED court makes debut to mixed reviews at NBA All-Star weekend's celebrity game
- Relive the 2004 People's Choice Awards: From Oprah Bringing Her Camcorder to Kaley Cuoco's Y2K Look
- Autoworkers threaten to strike again at Ford's huge Kentucky truck plant
- Benny Blanco Reveals Selena Gomez's Rented Out Botanical Garden for Lavish Date Night
- Two's company, three's allowed in the dating show 'Couple to Throuple'
- Iskra Lawrence’s Swimwear Collection Embraces Authentic Beauty With Unretouched Photos
- 4 men dead following drive-by shooting in Alabama, police say
Recommendation
-
Man waives jury trial in killing of Georgia nursing student
-
5-year-old migrant boy who got sick at a temporary Chicago shelter died from sepsis, autopsy shows
-
Ouch: College baseball player plunked seven times(!) in doubleheader
-
A California judge is under investigation for alleged antisemitism and ethical violations
-
South Carolina does not set a date for the next execution after requests for a holiday pause
-
Wholesale prices rose in January, signaling more inflation woes for American consumers
-
Sheriff says Tennessee man tried to enroll at Michigan school to meet minor
-
An ecstatic Super Bowl rally, upended by the terror of a mass shooting. How is Kansas City faring?