Taiwan’s Leader Lai Ching-te’s Stance on China Relations
Taiwan’s newly inaugurated leader, Lai Ching-te, expressed his willingness to foster mutual understanding and reconciliation with China despite recent military drills conducted by Beijing around the self-ruled island.
Background
Lai assumed office on Monday, prompting China to launch military exercises in response to his inauguration speech. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory and views Lai as a separatist threat.
Lai’s Message
During an event with his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Tainan, Lai emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for global security and prosperity. He called on China to collaborate with Taiwan in maintaining regional stability and fostering mutual understanding.
Lai reiterated his commitment to enhancing exchanges and cooperation with China to achieve peace and common prosperity. He also warned that any actions disrupting regional stability in the Taiwan Strait would not be accepted by the international community.
Recent Developments
Prior to his inauguration, Lai reached out to Beijing to resume communications, which had been severed since 2016 when Tsai Ing-wen assumed office. Both Lai and Tsai belong to the DPP and advocate for Taiwan’s sovereignty.
In response to Taiwan’s stance, Beijing has escalated military and political pressures on the island, maintaining a continuous presence of naval vessels, drones, and warplanes in the region.
Following the conclusion of the recent military drills, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported continued Chinese presence with seven aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and four coast guard ships operating around the island.