Peace through strength, says Taiwan’s president on China battle anniversary

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te emphasized on Sunday that securing peace requires strength, and no territorial compromises should be made. He visited Kinmen and Matsu islands, controlled by Taiwan since 1949, to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the 1958 battle with Chinese forces, marking the beginning of the second Taiwan Strait crisis. Lai laid a wreath and bowed at the memorial park, expressing gratitude to veterans for their unity and bravery in defending Taiwan against Communist aggression.

Lai stated that peace can't simply fall from the sky and the 1958 battle demonstrates that peace is secured through strength. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the spirit of never yielding any part of Taiwan, Kinmen, and other islands, while continuously increasing military spending. However, China's Taiwan Affairs Office declined to comment on his remarks.

China views the democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has consistently denounced Lai as a separatist. Despite rejecting Beijing's sovereignty claim, Lai has also expressed willingness to engage in talks with China. The islands of Kinmen and Matsu, only 2km from Chinese-controlled territory, witnessed a month-long bombardment by Chinese forces in 1958, with both naval and air battles. Taiwan fought back with U.S. support, but the conflict ended in a stalemate.

Every year, Taiwan observes August 23 as the anniversary of the date it repelled the Chinese attack. Since early 2024, China's coast guard has conducted regular law enforcement patrols around Kinmen, causing tension in Taiwan. Lai accused China of never ceasing its ambitions for external expansion, causing unease across the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan's defense spending for the next year is projected to surpass T$1 trillion (US$30 billion) for the first time, and Lai expressed hope for robust support for the budget.