Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a speech on Monday morning in Taipei as part of the island’s national day, amid a phase of dramatically escalating tensions with China, which sees the province as rebel. In her speech, the policy urged dialogue with Beijing while promising to strengthen the island’s combat power and commitment to democracy.
“I want to make it clear to the Chinese authorities that an armed confrontation is absolutely not an option for both sides. Only through respect for the Taiwanese people’s commitment to our sovereignty, democracy and freedom can there be the basis for resuming constructive interactions across the Strait.” “, said.
The president lamented that China escalated provocations and threats on the island in early August, in response to a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She said Beijing should not think that there is room for Taiwan to compromise in its commitment to a democratic system.
“Taiwan will show the world that it is taking responsibility for its defense,” he added.
In recent years, the president has established a military modernization program and increased defense spending and US collaboration in the sector, while China has stepped up pressure with its claims for annexation.
In her speech on Monday, she said Taiwan is ramping up production of precision missiles, investing in the naval industry and working to acquire mobile weapons that will ensure the island “is fully prepared to respond to external military threats.”
The Taipei leader’s speech comes less than a week before the opening of the Chinese Communist Party congress in Beijing, at which leader Xi Jinping is expected to win a third five-year term.
China has pledged to work for peaceful reunification with Taiwan under the “one country, two systems” model. All major Taiwanese parties, however, reject this proposal — which has almost no public support, according to opinion polls. Beijing has also never renounced the use of force to bring Taipei under its control.
Xi’s regime refuses to negotiate directly with Tsai – re-elected by a sweeping victory in 2020 on a promise to take on Beijing – with the president as a separatist. Tsai, for her part, has already offered windows of dialogue, although she makes strengthening Taiwan’s defenses a cornerstone of her government. Her idea is to allow for a more reliable deterrence towards China.
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