Honor guards raise a Taiwanese flag at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan Oct. 10, 2023. — REUTERS
Published October 6, 2024
TAIPEI — It is “impossible” for the People’s Republic of China to become Taiwan’s motherland because Taiwan has older political roots, the island’s President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday.
Mr. Lai, who took office in May, is condemned by Beijing as a “separatist.” He rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying that the island is a country called the Republic of China, which traces its origins back to the 1911 revolution that overthrew the last imperial dynasty.
The republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists who set up the People’s Republic of China, which continues to claim the island as its “sacred” territory.
Speaking at a concert ahead of Taiwan’s national day celebrations on Oct. 10, Mr. Lai noted that the People’s Republic had celebrated its 75th anniversary on Oct. 1, and in a few days it would be the Republic of China’s 113th birthday.
“Therefore, in terms of age, it is absolutely impossible for the People’s Republic of China to become the ‘motherland’ of the Republic of China’s people. On the contrary, the Republic of China may be the motherland of the people of the People’s Republic of China who are over 75 years old,” Mr. Lai added, to applause.
“One of the most important meanings of these celebrations is that we must remember that we are a sovereign and independent country,” he said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not answer calls seeking comment outside of office hours.
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SOURCE: www.bworldonline.com
RELATED: Taiwan president says ‘impossible’ for mainland China to be the motherland
President says Republic of China has older historical roots than communist People’s Republic of China
Published October 6, 2024
Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te said it was “impossible” for mainland China to become the self-governing island’s motherland, claiming that Taiwan had older political roots.
“In terms of age, it is absolutely impossible for the People’s Republic of China to become the motherland of the Republic of China’s people,” Mr Lai said.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) governs mainland China, whereas the Republic of China (ROC) administers Taiwan and several smaller islands.
“On the contrary, the Republic of China may be the motherland of the people of the People’s Republic of China who are over 75 years old,” Mr Lai said.
In a speech at a concert before Taiwan’s national day celebrations on 10 October, Mr Lai highlighted that the People’s Republic of China marked its 75th anniversary on 1 October, while the Republic of China will celebrate its 113th birthday shortly after.
“One of the most important meanings of these celebrations is that we must remember that we are a sovereign and independent country,” the Taiwanese president said.
China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and Chinese president Xi Jinping has threatened to “reunite” the island with the mainland by force if necessary, while the democratically-elected government of Taiwan says only the island’s people can choose their future.
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SOURCE: www.independent.co.uk
