Taiwan won't accept One Country, Two Systems: Tsai - RTHK
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Taiwan won't accept One Country, Two Systems: Tsai

2019-01-02 HKT 16:20
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  • Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen says Beijing must accept that the Republic of China exists. Photo: RTHK
    Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen says Beijing must accept that the Republic of China exists. Photo: RTHK
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that the island would definitely not accept reunification with the mainland under a "One country, Two systems" principle.

Earlier in the day, President Xi Jinping said the model put in place for Hong Kong and Macau would be the best approach for when Taiwan is reunited with the mainland. He also warned that he could not promise renouncing the use of force to make this happen.

At a press conference in Taipei, Tsai said Beijing must accept the fact that the Republic of China exists and it must respect the Taiwanese people's insistence on keeping their freedoms and democracy.

She said the overwhelming majority of the Taiwanese public are resolutely opposed to a "One Country, Two Systems" model.

"Democratic values are cherished by the Taiwanese people, it's their way of life," Tsai told reporters.

She also accused Beijing of provocations that strained people's "emotional connection" to the mainland such as "buying off" Taiwan's few diplomatic allies and increased military drills near the island.

Taiwan's foreign ministry released a terser response.

"If the Chinese government cannot treat its own people kindly, cannot guarantee human rights and will not let its own people vote... then Taiwanese will look at China's intent with suspicion," it said. (Additional reporting by AFP)