Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday attended the National Day celebrations for the first time as the head of her party. That also makes her the first DPP leader to do so in seven years.
Tsai, who is also the DPP’s presidential candidate, said it’s time to unify the country. That’s because, she said, Taiwan is going through a difficult period and is facing many domestic and international challenges.
Tsai said she hopes her attendance at the event can set a good example for opposition parties in the future.
“On the one hand, [I hope] that the opposition’s participation in the National Day celebrations will no longer be an issue, "said Tsai.
"On the other hand, our country will begin to have an atmosphere of solidarity so that we can stand together to protect Taiwan’s most valued treasures: democracy and freedom. They are our most precious assets. I also hope that our country can stand in unity regardless of what stage we’re at in the presidential campaign.”
Tsai was not the only presidential candidate to attend the National Day celebrations. She was joined by the ruling KMT’s Hung Hsiu-chu and the People First Party’s James Soong.