On 2 January, President Tsai Ing-wen affirmed Taiwan will not accept “one country, two systems” in a speech responding to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s message to impose this scenario on Taiwan. President Tsai stated that Taiwan has never accepted Beijing authorities’ definition of the so-called “1992 Consensus” as “One China” and “one country, two systems”. She stressed that Taiwan will not accept this and public opposition to it forms a “Taiwan Consensus”. President Tsai then reiterated the “four musts” for cross-strait relations: China must face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China (Taiwan), respect the commitment of Taiwan’s 23 million people to freedom and democracy, handle cross-strait differences peacefully and on the basis of equality and conduct negotiations with the government or through government-authorised agencies. The President concluded by stressing that democratic values are the values and way of life that Taiwanese cherish, and called upon China to bravely move towards democracy.
On 5 January, the President attended a reception for the international press corps to address remarks by China’s president pushing for the adoption of “one country, two systems” in Taiwan. She then reiterated her approach and Taiwan’s unwavering position, and once again called on China to move towards democracy and see Taiwan from a democratic perspective.
