Former American Institute in Taiwan official Barbara Schrage has given her views on Tsai Ing-wen’s election as Taiwan’s next president.
Schrage was speaking Thursday during a teleconference hosted by US think tank Heritage Foundation. She said that Tsai’s handling of the 1992 Consensus shows careful consideration. Under the consensus, Taiwan and China agree that both sides belong to one China while agreeing to disagree on what one China means.
Schrage said that while Tsai has not spoken explicitly about the 1992 Consensus, she has made remarks that incorporate elements on the consensus.
Schrage congratulated Tsai and Taiwan for being part of a free and open democracy. She said that the US and Taiwan have shared values, cooperate in many areas of international affairs.
Schrage also said that cross-strait peace is in the United States’ interests. She said that US should encourage Tsai to fulfill the promises of sustainable cross-strait relations and cross-strait peace she made in her victory speech.
Schrage said the US government’s dispatch of former diplomat William Burns to Taipei after the election shows the value the US places on its unofficial relationship with Taiwan. She said she hopes the outgoing Ma administration will work with Tsai’s new government to promote regional peace and stability.
Schrage said that the congratulations Tsai received from countries around the world show that many countries also wish to maintain their unofficial relations with Taiwan. While she said it is too early to predict whether Taiwan’s diplomatic allies will switch recognition to Beijing, the US will continue supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.