Taipei

Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expressed gratitude to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama after he congratulated her colleague Lai Ching-te for winning third straight term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwanese presidential elections.

She thanked the Dalai Lama for the inspiring message, recognizing the importance of taiwan’s existence and exercise of democracy.

Grateful for the congratulations & the inspiring message from the Dalai Lama recognizing the importance of our exercise of democracy in Taiwan to freedom & dignity worldwide, Tsai posted on X in response to Dalai Lama’s wish.

After the Taiwanese voters defied Chinese threats to bring DPP to power yet again despite Tsai completing her two straight terms as 2016, Dalai Lama wrote to President-elect Lai Ching-te to offer his warm congratulations. Indeed, he wrote, 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.

He recalled his visit to Taiwan, commending the hospitality he received and the democracy in the country. He also expressed admiration for the strong devotion of the Taiwanese Buddhists to Buddhism.

I have fond memories of the hospitality the people of Taiwan showed me during my visits there, when I was also able to see how firmly rooted democracy has become. The Taiwanese people have not only developed a flourishing, robust democracy, but have also achieved a great deal in terms of economics and education, while at the same time preserving their rich traditional culture, the statement read.