President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that there are no winners in war, sending a message to the incoming Tsai Ing-wen administration.
Speaking on a visit to the defense ministry, Ma stressed the importance of his cross-strait policy in maintaining peaceful relations with China since he took office in 2008. He said ensuring that neither side of the Taiwan Strait makes a unilateral change to the status quo should remain the country’s first line of defense.
Ma also said Taiwan should continue to increase its involvement in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid to win greater respect from the international community.
Ma said, “For both sides to acknowledge that changing the status quo we have worked for over the past eight years is not good for either side. If [China] recognizes this, it will not seek to change the status quo. As Sun Tzu’s Art of War says, ‘The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy’s plans.’ Meanwhile through our contribution to the international community, we will build up our prestige.”
Ma will step down as president on May 20, having served two four-year terms. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party has pledged to uphold the status quo in cross-strait relations. However, Tsai is mistrusted by Beijing for her party’s traditional advocacy of Taiwan independence.