Taiwan's security council quietly steps up as architect of China strategy

Kinmen, Taiwan - President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized on Sunday that peace can only be achieved through strength, visiting a disputed island to commemorate a pivotal clash with Chinese forces nearly seven decades ago. The self-governing Republic of China has controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands, situated off the Chinese coast, since 1949 when the ROC fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war against Mao Zedong's communists.

No formal peace treaty or armistice has been established, marking the islands as a tense flashpoint between the two nations.

On the 68th anniversary of the 1958 confrontation, Tsai laid a wreath and paid respects at a memorial park, recalling the heavy rain that fell during the battle, known as the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. Addressing veterans, Tsai expressed gratitude to those who "stood united and fought a bloody battle to repel communist totalitarian aggression," vowing that "our resolve to unite in defending national sovereignty and safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait must never waver."

She stated that "peace has never simply fallen from the sky." The 1958 clash, Tsai argued, demonstrated that "peace is secured through strength," highlighting the need to maintain Taiwan's territorial integrity and bolster its military capabilities.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has not yet responded to a request for comment on Tsai's remarks. China considers Taiwan its own territory and has repeatedly condemned Tsai as a "separatist." Despite this, Tsai maintains that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, while also expressing willingness for dialogue with China.

Kinmen, at its closest point, is less than 2 kilometers from Chinese-controlled territory. During the 1958 battle, Chinese forces launched a month-long bombardment of Kinmen and Matsu, including naval and air attacks, in an attempt to subdue the islands. Taiwan defended itself with support from the United States, but the crisis ended in a stalemate.

August 23 is observed annually by Taiwan to commemorate the successful defense against the Chinese attack.

Since early 2024, China's coast guard has conducted regular "law enforcement" patrols around Kinmen in Taiwan-controlled waters, which has angered Taipei. Tsai reiterated that China has not ceased its "ambitions for external expansion for a single day" since the crisis began 68 years ago, causing "unease" across the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan's defense budget for next year will surpass 1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($30 billion) for the first time, Tsai announced on Thursday, and he expressed hope for strong support for the budget.