Adds comment from China's top official in charge of Taiwan issue

补充了中国负责台湾问题的最高官员的评论

TAIPEI, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Taiwan is ready to have "meaningful" talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, offering another olive branch to Beijing in her New Year's speech.

路透台北1月1日电- - -台湾总统蔡英文周五在新年致辞中表示，台湾愿意与中国进行“有意义的”平等对话，只要他们愿意搁置冲突。她还向北京伸出了另一根橄榄枝。

Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.

中国宣称拥有主权的民主台湾受到了北京方面越来越大的压力，北京方面已加大了在台湾附近的军事活动。

China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing U.S. support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence, a red line for China.

中国表示，这是对华盛顿和台北之间的“勾结”作出回应，台北对美国对这个自治岛屿日益增长的支持感到愤怒。北京方面认为这是台湾宣布正式独立的前兆，是中国的一条红线。

Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

蔡英文在总统府说，在过去的一年里，中国在台湾附近的军事活动威胁了印度-太平洋地区的和平与稳定。

"I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles," Tsai said.

蔡英文说:“我想重申，当涉及到两岸关系时，我们不会贸然前进，我们将坚持我们的原则。”

"As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue," she added, echoing comments she made in October in her national day speech.

“只要北京当局决心化解对立，改善两岸关系，在互惠和尊严的原则下，我们愿意共同促进有意义的对话，”她补充道，呼应了她在10月份国庆演讲中所说的话。

China, which cut off a formal talks mechanism in 2016 after she first won office, has repeatedly rejected Tsai's advances, saying she has to first accept Taiwan is part of China, something Tsai has refused to do.

中国在2016年蔡英文首次当选后中断了正式的对话机制，一再拒绝蔡英文的示好，称她必须首先接受台湾是中国的一部分，而蔡英文一直拒绝这样做。

Tsai expressed her hope that once the COVID-19 epidemic is under control, "normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings" between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume.

蔡英文表示，希望疫情得到控制后，两岸人民能够恢复“增进了解、减少误解的正常有序交流”。

While there was no direct response from Beijing, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his new year's message they would stand by the "one China" principle.

虽然北京方面没有直接回应，但中国台湾事务办公室主任刘结一在新年贺词中表示，他们将坚持“一个中国”原则。

"Only by eliminating the scourge of 'Taiwan independence' can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

他说:“只有消除‘台独’的祸害，台海才能和平稳定。”

Switching to English, Tsai said she was deeply grateful for the international community's continued backing for Taiwan.

蔡英文说，她非常感谢国际社会对台湾的持续支持。

"Our democracy is stronger because of your support."

“因为你们的支持，我们的民主更加强大。”

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill)

(本·布兰查德报道;北京新闻编辑室补充报道;Kim Coghill编辑)