DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen has spoken with the media on the final day before Taiwan’s general elections.
Tsai spoke about the need to secure a formal apology from Japan for Taiwan’s comfort women. These women were forcibly taken and made into sex slaves for the Japanese military during WWII.
Japan and South Korea recently reached an agreement on the issue of Korean comfort women, but a similar agreement with Taiwan has not been forthcoming. Only three Taiwanese comfort women remain after the death of Chen Tao earlier in the week.
Tsai said that if elected, she will speed up efforts to get a formal apology from the Japanese government.
Tsai also condemned a Chinese ban on Taiwanese singer Chou Tzu-yu. The ban on Chou comes after she was pictured holding the flag of the Republic of China. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name. Tsai said that Republic of China citizens holding their national flag are expressing their love and support of their country. She said that this is every citizen’s right, and should not be trampled on.
Tsai said that she will be proactive in communicating with China. She said that she will maintain the status quo and work with China and the US to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.