Taiwan presidential election Lai Ching-te announced Hsiao Meiqin as his running mate | Lai Xiaopei | Taiwan election | Blue and White

[The Epoch Times, November 20, 2023](Epoch Times reporter Zhong Yuan reported in Taiwan) Lai Qingde, Vice President of the Republic of China and presidential candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, held a press conference on Monday (November 20) afternoon and officially announced the invitation to Xiao Meiqin. He is running as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Xiao Meiqin has formally submitted her resignation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and resigned from her position as representative in the United States. “Lai Xiao Pei” officially formed an army, and the two appeared together.

Lai Qingde posted on Facebook on Monday morning that he would officially announce the news to the Chinese people in the afternoon and shared a photo with Xiao Meiqin, the representative of the Republic of China in the United States. He said that he believed this was the decision that everyone expected and the best decision.

“Lai Xiao Pei” officially formed the army Lai Qingde: We will steadily lead the country on the right path

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Qingde held the “2024 Lai Qingde Vice President Candidate Announcement Press Conference” at the campaign headquarters at 3 o’clock this afternoon, announcing that Xiao Meiqin will be the deputy candidate, and the “Lai Xiao Pei” was officially formed. In his speech, Lai Qingde said that he sincerely thanked Xiao Meiqin for seeing her own responsibilities from the needs of national development and being willing to jointly undertake the mission of national development in the next stage.

Lai Ching-te said that amid the complex changes in the international situation and geopolitics, the whole world is paying attention to the Taiwan election and wants to know whether the Taiwanese people will trust Taiwan in this major election and allow Taiwan to continue to grow and advance on the road to democracy, or whether they will choose to rely on the CCP , followed the pro-Communist line and locked Taiwan into the Chinese Communist Party again. He also wants to report to the Chinese people again that Taiwan cannot withstand chaos and cannot experiment. At this moment, we need a stable and experienced leader who can seize opportunities in the changing situation and continue to adhere to the path of democracy, peace, and prosperity.

Lai Qingde said that he would like to warn his fellow countrymen that Lai Qingde and Xiao Meiqin will steadily lead the country on the right path. “Please give us a chance. We will unite Taiwan and turn the changing situation into an opportunity for Taiwan!” Let Taiwan move toward democracy, peace, and innovation. Prosperity, and a just and sustainable Taiwan. Finally, I would like to thank Xiao Meiqin again for returning to Taiwan with many years of experience and working hard for the country with him. Her journey home is also a journey to protect Taiwan, and it is a journey with full love for Taiwan.

The CCP intervened in Taiwan’s election, Hsiao Meiqin: It is my duty to support Taiwan

Xiao Meiqin said in her speech that listing Taiwan in the United States in the past few years has been a task assigned by President Tsai, and it is also the fighting position she has given herself. In the past three years and four months, she and her representative team in the United States have worked hard to make the operation of Taiwan-U.S. relations smoother. We will also try our best to fulfill the responsibilities assigned by President Tsai and the people of Taiwan. She likes cats and often describes herself as a “battle cat” because diplomacy is like the steps of a cat. Every step must be cautious, sometimes gentle but also firm. During her stay in the United States, she stood firm, handled issues properly, and navigated difficult political environments. Maximizing Taiwan-US relations also makes other countries with similar ideals more supportive of Taiwan’s international participation.

Xiao Meiqin said that after the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Taiwan Strait has once again attracted international attention. Although the whole world hopes that the status quo in the Taiwan Strait will be maintained, it has been constantly subjected to unilateral changes from the other side, intrusion by planes and ships, and interference in Taiwan’s elections. I believe everyone is deeply affected and very anxious. , whether Taiwan can uphold its democratic values ​​and whether it can decide its own future will have a profound impact not only on Taiwan itself, but also on the world. These changes in the situation have also made her face the difficult challenges before her and know that she has no room to avoid them.

She said that today she has resigned as her representative in the United States to President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu respectively, and is fully committed to the vice presidential campaign. She will bring her experience in every position and position in the past and her mission to the country to serve Taiwan. More, go further for the people of Taiwan. Thank you Lai Qingde and the people of Taiwan for trusting her and being willing to entrust heavy responsibilities on her shoulders. Thank you to President Tsai for your encouragement and blessings. “I am Xiao Meiqin, and I am back! Support Taiwan!” It is our duty to do so! I will continue to tease you for the sake of the country! Let’s work hard together!”

Lai Qingde: Xiao Meiqin is a rare diplomatic talent

Previously, Lai Qingde stated on Facebook that he and President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States in February just after they won the election in 2020. Although the temperature in Washington, D.C. was a bit cold at that time, people were full of hope under the sun. He and his traveling companions visited the Lincoln Memorial, which is a palace symbolizing America’s pursuit of democracy, freedom and human rights. It is also the location where Nobel Peace Prize winner Reverend Martin Luther delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. At that time, he and his companion Xiao Meiqin took a group photo in front of the memorial hall and left this photo.

“At that time, they may not have imagined that the COVID-19 epidemic that was beginning to spread would soon affect everyone in the world, and would also cause subsequent changes in the interaction between Taiwan and other countries. And Xiao Meiqin also returned from their visit to China A few months later, he officially became the representative to the United States and immediately started working on diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the United States. During the epidemic, Taiwan and the United States facilitated mutual support of anti-epidemic supplies, creating such a good cycle,” Lai said.

Lai Ching-te pointed out that Xiao Meiqin’s diplomatic performance in the United States in recent years has long been praised by the public and international friends, and has also achieved unprecedented close interaction in Taiwan-US relations in recent years. He believes that Hsiao Meiqin is definitely a leader in Taiwan’s diplomatic work today and a rare diplomatic talent in the country.

He said that during this period, after seeing the turmoil caused by the Blue and White cooperation, he has repeatedly emphasized that cooperation without a basis of mutual trust, even if it does become a campaign combination in the end, will be a combination that appears to be inseparable and shares stolen power. Any cooperation that does not share the same philosophy and common values ​​will eventually cause greater chaos and will not be a blessing to the country.

He believes that compared with the turmoil of Blue and White, the team he leads is definitely a team that is fully prepared and can withstand the test. Under President Tsai Ing-wen’s eight-year rule, he is confident that together with Xiao Meiqin, in the last 50 years In the past few days, we have gathered the consensus of the people and united all forces to win the election, allowing Taiwan to continue to grow on a steady path forward. We ask the people to firmly support us and join them in facing the final victory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that Taiwan Representative to the United States Hsiao Meiqin reported her duties to Foreign Minister Joseph Wu at 9 a.m. today and formally resigned from her position as Representative to the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will handle Xiao Meiqin’s resignation in accordance with regulations, and it is expected that the procedure will be completed and effective in a few days.

Wu Zhaoxie has also approved Xiao Meiqin’s request for leave during this period. Wu Zhaoxie also expressed his condolences to Hsiao Meiqin for her courage in serving her country. During her term of office, she made outstanding contributions to Taiwan-US relations. She was highly recognized by the Chinese people and praised by all walks of life in the United States as an outstanding diplomat.

Xiao Meiqin will add much-needed diplomatic and security influence to Lai Qingde

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, who has known Hsiao since the 1990s, said she is a “formidable politician” and will add much-needed diplomacy and diplomacy to Lai’s vote. Security Impact.

“Mikoto’s connections in Washington will be invaluable to Vice President Lai, and if he is elected, she will bring all of those connections into his administration, which is something he doesn’t have yet,” he told Reuters.

The United States, like most countries, has no formal relations with Taiwan but is its most important international supporter and arms supplier.

Like Lai Qingde, Xiao Meiqin was also sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party.

Xiao Meiqin was born in Japan to a Taiwanese father and an American mother. She first worked in the office of then President Chen Shui-bian and later became a legislator of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Editor in charge: Lin Yan#