Taiwan's President Urges Indo-Pacific Democracies to Unite for Regional Peace
In a National Day address, Lai Ching-te also called for U.S.-China dialogue to manage competition and reduce conflict risk.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te urged democracies in the Indo-Pacific to "join forces" to maintain regional stability in a speech marking Taiwan's National Day on Saturday. The address comes amid ongoing tensions between Taiwan, the United States, and China.
Lai also welcomed dialogue between China and the U.S. as a means to manage their competition and reduce the risk of conflict. However, he stressed that maintaining peace requires a correct understanding of history and respect for the right of the people of Taiwan to exist. "Democracies in the Indo-Pacific must join forces to ensure the status quo of peace and stability in the region is not changed," he stated.
Taiwan, which has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949, faces increasing military and political pressure from Beijing. China views the self-governing democracy as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary. In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump his hope that the U.S. would adhere to "the correct position of opposing ‘Taiwan independence'" during Trump's visit to Washington.
Lai asserted that China's pressure aims to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. He framed Taiwan's resolve not just as a matter of survival against "authoritarian expansion" but also as a test of whether the international community upholds the principle that force cannot override rules.
Taiwan has increased its defense investments, which Lai described as measures to deter war rather than provoke. "We are strengthening our self-defense not to abandon dialogue, but to ensure that dialogue can take place on the basis of parity and dignity," he explained, adding that Taiwan cherishes peace but will not relinquish its freedom.
Taiwan's defense ministry reported on Saturday that 21 Chinese military aircraft and seven navy ships were operating around Taiwan in the preceding 24 hours. Thirteen of the aircraft crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait and entered the island's air defense identification zone.
Foreign dignitaries, including Eswatini King Mswati III and Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, attended Taiwan's National Day celebrations, according to Lai's office. Eswatini is Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa. A Japanese parliamentary delegation also participated in the events.
The National Day celebration commemorates the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty. The Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 following the Communist Party's victory in the Chinese Civil War.