Taiwan’s opposition presidential candidate today assured the United States she would not

Taiwan’s opposition presidential candidate today assured the United States she would not whip up tensions with China if elected but pledged to boost defense spending to counterbalance a rising Beijing.

The United States, the primary guarantor of the island’s security, has repeatedly hailed the easing of tensions across the Taiwan Strait since voters elected Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008.

On a visit to Washington, Tsai Ing-wen — who is challenging Ma in January elections — acknowledged a “rough period” between Taiwan and the United States when her Democratic Progressive Party was last in power.

But Tsai said the DPP — which emphasizes Taiwan’s separate identity from mainland China and in the past has flirted with declaring independence — has “matured along with the development of Taiwan’s democracy.”

“Our policy must be in line with the mainstream consensus in our society as well as international expectations and therefore we will refrain from extreme or radical approaches,” she said.

Tsai, however, criticized Ma for a “lack of dedication to a strong defense.”

While calling for the United States to sell fighter jets to the island, Ma has not met a goal of devoting three percent of GDP to military spending, saying that the global economic crisis necessitated other priorities.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification. The mainland’s nationalists fled to the island in 1949 after losing the civil war and it has since turned into a vibrant, self-governing democracy.

The United States recognizes only China but under a 1979 law is required to provide for the island’s defense. President Barack Obama’s administration in January 2010 approved US$6.4 billion in arms to Taiwan, angering China.

But the administration has refrained from selling the island the latest F-16 fighter jets, despite rising pressure from Taiwan’s supporters in the US Congress and assessments that China is gaining a military edge.

Tseng called for the Obama administration to make more gestures, such as relaxing rules to allow Taiwanese to visit the United States without visas.

Source AFP