In China's eyes we're all separatists, Taiwan presidential frontrunner saysReuters, Dec 20, 2023
TAIPEI, Dec 20 (Reuters) - In China's eyes all three Taiwan presidential candidates are separatists, the frontrunner to be the island's next leader said on Wednesday in a fractious joint televised address with the other contenders.
The Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections will define Chinese-claimed Taiwan's ties with Beijing, and are happening as China steps up military activities around the island to assert its sovereignty claims.
China has rebuked current Vice President Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate and leading in the polls, as a dangerous separatist, and portrayed the vote as a choice between war and peace.
In a live televised pre-election policy address by the three presidential candidates - an actual debate comes later this month - Lai said China's desire to "swallow up" Taiwan was the country's national policy.
"Don't foolishly allow China to define Taiwan independence," he said, standing next to the other two candidates, Hou Yu-ih from Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang, and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the much smaller Taiwan People's Party.
"Mayor Hou and Chairman Ko, in the eyes of China, the three of us standing here running for president are all for Taiwan independence," Lai added.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-eyes-were-all-separatists-taiwan-presidential-frontrunner-says-2023-12-20/