Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up freedom, says president
TAIPEI: Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom, and there must be respect for the right of Taiwan’s people to exist, President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in a National Day speech, adding that boosting defences is not a provocation.
Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, emphasized on Saturday that while Taiwan values peace, it will not sacrifice its freedom. Speaking during a National Day address, Lai stressed the importance of respecting the right of Taiwan's people to exist, rejecting China's claim of the island as its own territory.
Facing a significantly larger and more advanced Chinese military, Taiwan is allocating more resources to its defense, modernizing its armed forces, and boosting defense spending. Lai acknowledged that peaceful resolutions alone are insufficient and that Taiwan must defend its autonomy against what it perceives as China's authoritarian expansion.
He clarified that Taiwan's defense investment is not a provocation, but rather a means to deter war and ensure dialogue can proceed on equal terms. Lai urged international democracies to support Taiwan in maintaining regional stability, but noted that he remains hopeful for constructive dialogue between China and the United States to prevent conflict.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
