The MAC stated today (October 10, 2021) that President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized in her National Day Address that Taiwan firmly contributes to regional peace and defends democracy and freedom in the face of severe challenges. The President called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to resolve differences through dialogue on the basis of parity. She reiterated that neither Taiwan’s goodwill nor commitments will change, and Taiwan will do its utmost to prevent the status quo from being unilaterally altered. The MAC stated that the President's address demonstrates the consistency of Taiwan’s cross-Strait policies and conveys the enduring commitment and will of the 23 million people in Taiwan. It also called on the Beijing authorities to renounce the hostile mindset and the approach of resolving disputes by force. Taiwan will not allow its national sovereignty to be maliciously provoked or slandered.
The MAC stressed that the Republic of China (ROC) is a sovereign and independent nation that has stood firm for 110 years. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other. This is a fact. The Beijing authorities constantly claimed to unify Taiwan, recently intensified their efforts to undermine the status quo of the Taiwan Strait, and intended to annihilate the ROC. In the face of these circumstances, the MAC stated that the 23 million people of Taiwan will stand even more united together to defend the nation's sovereignty and dignity, and firmly reject the other side’s illusion to lay out a path for Taiwan's future development.
The MAC stated that the government's cross-Strait policy is that Taiwan will neither act rashly nor yield. The commitment to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is affirmed by the international community and the people of Taiwan. The unconstructive blame and critical slander from mainland China’s Taiwan Affairs Office will only deepen the gap and cognitive differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and contribute nothing to benign interaction and development. The Beijing authorities should pragmatically face up to the "four commitments" proposed by President Tsai. They must recognize that the international community and people of Taiwan oppose their coercive behavior, adjust their actions, and truly assume their due responsibility to promote peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.