President Ma Ying-jeou says that Taiwan has been able to use viable diplomacy to stabilize its relations with its allies.
Ma said on Tuesday that Taiwan and China have had warmer ties since he took office. He said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore last month was a historical moment since both sides ruled separately for the last 66 years. Both sides were able to show the world they can resolve differences through peaceful means and mutual respect.
Ma said improved cross-strait ties have led to peace and stability. Taiwan has been able to use viable diplomacy to promote relations with its allies.
“Recently, someone disagreed with viable diplomacy and said “scorched earth diplomacy” should be resumed. This is a wrong judgment. That would mean we have forgotten the painful lessons history has taught us and are disregarding international realities," said Ma.
"Before my administration took office, Taiwan gained three new allies but lost nine. So actually, we lost six diplomatic allies. After we took office, relations with 22 allied nations have remained stable besides The Gambia and that was due to the Gambian president’s personal reasons.”
Meanwhile, Ma said Taiwan and US relations are at their best since severing diplomatic ties. Taiwan-US security cooperation has been at its best, with the US approving an arms sale to Taiwan this year totaling US$20.1 billion.