DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen says the timing of an upcoming meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese leader Xi Jinping raises suspicions about the meeting’s purpose.
Tsai was speaking at a press conference Wednesday. She said that the DPP welcomes cross-strait exchangesprovided they are based on the principles of dignity, transparency, and the avoidance of political topics.
However, Tsai said the decision to hold the meeting in the run-up to an election will lead the Taiwanese public to question whether the meeting is an attempt to influence the election’s outcome.
"Choosing to hold the Ma-Xi meeting at a sensitive time when Taiwan is preparing for an election must raise suspicions among the public as to whether the meeting is an attempt to influence the election," said Tsai. "If the KMT uses cross-strait issues to make political moves right before every election, it will have a negative impact on cross-strait relations in the long term and won’t gain the approval of the Taiwanese people."
Tsai said that Ma is preparing to leave office, and so will be unable to keep any promises he makes during the meeting. She called on Ma to avoid limiting Taiwan’s future for personal political gain during his meeting with Xi.