Taiwan's leader hopes for reduced tensions with China
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen says she hopes for less tensions with China and in the region if Beijing will listen to Taipei’s concerns, alter its approach and restart dialogue with the self-ruled island democracy
10 October 2020, 21:44
4 min read
The Associated Press
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of...Read More
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Saturday she has hopes for less tensions with China and in the region if Beijing will listen to Taipei’s concerns, alter its approach and restart dialogue with the self-ruled island democracy.
Speaking at Taiwan’s National Day celebrations on Saturday, Tsai took note of recent remarks by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a video message to the U.N. General Assembly that China would never seek hegemony, expansion or to establish a sphere of influence.
“As countries in the region and around the world are now concerned about China’s expanding hegemony, we hope this is the beginning of genuine change," Tsai said in her annual address at the Presidential Office in downtown Taipei.
If Beijing can “heed Taiwan’s voice, change the way it handles cross-strait relations, and jointly facilitate cross-strait reconciliation and peaceful dialogue, I believe that regional tension can surely be resolved," Tsai said.
China's ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing island as Chinese territory to be annexed by force if necessary. Beijing cut contacts with Tsai's government following her election to a first term in 2016 and has steadily increased diplomatic, military and economic pressure on the island of 23 million people to compel her to endorse its contention that Taiwan and the mainland constitute a single Chinese nation, which it refers to as the “1992 Consensus."
In Beijing, a spokesperson for the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office responded to Tsai's address by renewing China's demand for concessions and accusing her of “disrupting the exchanges and cooperation" between the sides, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Zhu Fenglian also accused Tsai of “deliberately misleading the people of Taiwan" and “warning the Taiwan authorities to adhere to the 1992 Consensus."
Tsai, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, was reelected by a wide margin this spring, and especially since September, China has been sending warplanes and ships into areas under Taiwanese control, prompting the island's air force to scramble its jets at a faster tempo than before.
“For some time now, harassment by air and sea from the other side has raised tensions in the Taiwan Strait," Tsai said, adding that Taiwan would neither show weakness nor “act rashly."
”We are committed to upholding cross-strait stability, but this is not something Taiwan can shoulder alone; it is the joint responsibility of both sides," she said. “As long as the Beijing authorities are willing to resolve antagonisms and improve cross-strait relations, while parity and dignity are maintained, we are willing to work together to facilitate meaningful dialogue."
She said such an approach was built on a cross-party consensus, a nod to the main opposition Nationalist Party, which although formally advocating unification with China has been downplaying that stance in a bid to stem electoral losses.
China's campaign of isolation has seen Taiwan excluded from international gatherings and reduced its number of diplomatic allies to just 15, even while it enjoys strong informal support from the U.S., Japan and other major democracies.
Tsai also praised Taiwan's success in containing the coronavirus outbreak and outlined steps taken to boost its high-tech economy and the military.
Her speech was bookended by displays of troops and civilian defense forces, as well as bands and dance performances in front of invited guests and members of the public in front of the presidential building that dates from Taiwan's time as a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945.
Following World War II, Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China run by Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists, who moved to the island in 1949 ahead of the Communist takeover of the mainland.
Oct. 10 National Day dates from the start of a 1911 rebellion against the Qing, China's last empire, that led to the establishment of the Republic of China, which remains Taiwan's formal name.
Queen Elizabeth II has used her delayed birthday honors list to celebrate the selfless work of people in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic
10 October 2020, 22:34
4 min read
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Friday, June 27, 2014 filephoto, David Suchet poses for a portrait during an intervie...Read More
LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth II has used her delayed birthday honors list to celebrate the selfless work of people — some more famous than others — in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to honoring the work of doctors and nurses, the queen handed awards late Friday to delivery drivers, fundraisers and volunteers.
In total, 1,495 honours make up this year’s list, with health and social care workers making up 14%. The list is also the most diverse ever, with 13% of recipients from a minority ethnic background.
Felicia Kwaku, 52, was awarded an OBE for her services to nursing during the pandemic, making her an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
She said it is “timely and appropriate” that people from ethnic backgrounds are being recognised for their efforts during what is Black History Month in the U.K.
The U.K. has experienced Europe’s deadliest outbreak with more than 42,500 deaths. The pandemic has disproportionately affected people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, particularly those working in hospitals and nursing homes.
Kwaku, an associate director of nursing at King’s College NHS Foundation Trust in London, supported nurses from ethnic backgrounds during the pandemic by delivering webinars and raising issues surrounding personal protective equipment.
“You can’t ignore the fact people have laid down their lives during this pandemic," she said. "It is only right, proper and fitting to honor them and honor those who continue to serve.”
Mustafa Kemal Koksal received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire for services to the community during the pandemic. The 63-year-old completed at least one volunteer duty every day over the two months he couldn't work as a bus supervisor, totalling more than 80 trips to fetch shopping or collect prescriptions for elderly and disabled people in York.
Though more people from ethnic backgrounds are being recognized, the honors system continues to draw criticism over the lack of diversity.
Kehinde Andrews, professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University, said the honors system reflected “how we think history works by picking out the winners.”
This year’s birthday list was postponed from June in order to include people battling the virus. British honors are also awarded at New Year’s.
The winners are actually chosen by civil servants committees based on nominations from the government and the public. The awards are usually given out by the queen or a senior royal acting in her place during investitures at Buckingham Palace, but the pandemic has changed all that, not least because the queen is self-isolating at Windsor Castle.
Sports coach Joe Wicks, who effectively became the U.K.'s personal trainer during the lockdown through his popular YouTube videos, received an MBE award that makes him a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 22, also received an MBE for his campaign to ensure children in need could receive meals across the summer during the pandemic. His efforts prompted the government to announce a policy change.
“This is a very special moment for myself and my family, but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour," he said. “The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over.”
Also honored was Mary Berry, the food writer and former judge of the hugely popular Great British Bake Off, who became a dame. Berry said she was “absolutely overwhelmed” at receiving a damehood.
Phil Redmond, the creator of some of the most popular television shows of the past four decades, such as “Grange Hill,” “Brookside” and “Hollyoaks”, has been knighted for services to broadcasting and arts in the regions.
Tommy Steele, widely known as Britain’s “first rock n roll star,” was also knighted for services to entertainment and charity, as has David Suchet, who played Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot on television for almost 25 years.
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