(TibetanReview.net, Jan15’24) – The Dalai Lama as well as top leaders of the exile Tibetan administration have congratulated Mr Lai Ching-te (or William Lai) on his election Jan 13 as the new President of Taiwan while China has scolded the USA and Japan for doing the same.
In his Jan 14 congratulatory letter to Mr Lai, the Dalai Lama has said, “observing the exercise of democracy, as has just taken place in Taiwan, is a source of encouragement for all of us who aspire to live in freedom and dignity.”
Aware of China’s persistent threat to the island and its democracy, the spiritual leader of Tibet and the 1989 Nobel Peace laureate has also said: “Good relations between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China are of utmost importance. It is my longstanding conviction that engaging in dialogue is the best way to resolve difficult issues, whether on a local, national or international level.”
Deputy Speaker Ms Dolma Tsering Teykhang of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and the executive head, Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration have also offered their official congratulations.
Meanwhile China has accused the US of sending “a gravely wrong signal” to those pushing for Taiwan’s independence after Secretary of State Antony Blinked sent president-elect Lai a message of congratulations. Blinken has emphasised that the partnership between Taipei and Washington was rooted in democratic values. The top US diplomat was also quick to say that such collaboration should “further our longstanding unofficial relationship” and be “consistent with the US One China policy”, noted the bbc.com Jan 14.
Beijing still called the message a violation of Washington’s commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan.
But the United States was not the only country that congratulated Mr Lai ion his electoral victory. Messages of congratulations for Taiwan’s new leader poured in from all over the world after the election, including from Mr Blinken, the report noted.
On Jan 14, the Chinese embassy in Japan said that it “resolutely opposed” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kajikawa’s statement congratulating Taiwan’s new president-elect Mr Lai.
Kamikawa has called the self-ruled island “an extremely crucial partner and an important friend”, reported Reuters Jan 14