From Bloomberg:
President Ma Ying-jeou urged China in his inaugural speech to move toward democracy and allow Taiwan a larger international role, testing his relationship with a government that claims sovereignty over the island.
“We hope that mainland China will continue to move toward freedom, democracy and prosperity for all people,” Ma said after being sworn in today in Taipei. “Taiwan doesn’t just want security and prosperity. It wants dignity.”
Ma’s comments, which included a pledge to acquire more weaponry, triggered the largest decline in Taiwan’s stock market since his March 22 election. Ma, 57, pledged during his campaign to open regular direct flights with China for the first time in six decades while his party chairman will meet with mainland leaders next week in Beijing.
Read also Taiwan’s new president calls for China talks by AFP, Taiwan’s new president offers China dialogue by Ralph Jennings.
