Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou (R) shakes hands with President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (L) after discussing the transfer of power in a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan March 30, 2016. Photo: Reuters

(From Reuters)

The incoming Taiwanese government on Sunday accused China of “political interference” after a senior Chinese official cast doubt over the island keeping its observer status at the World Health Organisation if bilateral relations deteriorated further.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou (R) shakes hands with President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (L) after discussing the transfer of power in a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan March 30, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou (R) shakes hands with President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (L) after discussing the transfer of power at a meeting in Taipei

China and self-ruled Taiwan underwent a rapprochement under the outgoing government which was run by China-friendly Nationalists, but ties have begun to strain with their successors, the independence-leaning Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Tsai said she will maintain the status quo with China, but has never conceded to a key bilateral agreement, the “one China” principle.

On Friday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office, China’s top agency that deals with the island, said that Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly was an arrangement based on the “one China” principle, and this could cease “should the political foundation of cross-Strait ties be destabilized in the future.” Read More

Join the Conversation

1 Comment

Leave a comment