Taipei: Taiwan must safeguard its sovereignty and embrace its own culture and history, President Lai Ching-te declared on Sunday, refuting the outdated notion that the island could be used as a base to “retake” China.
Since taking office in May, Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have emphasized Taiwan’s distinct identity from China, a stance that frequently provokes Beijing. The Chinese government views Taiwan as an integral part of its territory.
Addressing the DPP’s annual convention, Lai highlighted that those who fought for Taiwan’s democracy, with martial law only ending in 1987, had a clear vision of the island’s role in the world. “They did not hesitate to shed blood and used their lives to debunk the mistaken idea that ‘Taiwan is a base to retake the mainland,’ and instituted the national policy of putting Taiwan first,” said Lai, who is also the DPP chairman.
Following the defeat in the Chinese civil war, Chiang Kai-shek and his Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan in 1949. Chiang aimed to rebuild his forces on Taiwan and launch an assault on China to overthrow Mao Zedong’s People’s Republic of China, but he died in 1975 without realizing this goal.
Lai emphasized Taiwan’s current priorities. “Now, our responsibility is to unite the people, oppose annexation by China, and ensure national sovereignty,” he said, addressing the crowd in Taiwanese (Hokkien), rather than the official language, Mandarin.
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“We must strive to help all citizens understand Taiwan’s history and culture, and build a national identity that binds the 23 million people living in Taiwan as a community of destiny,” he added.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment outside office hours on Sunday. Beijing has labeled Lai as a “separatist.” Lai maintains that only Taiwan’s people have the right to determine their future. Although he has repeatedly proposed talks with Beijing, these offers have been rejected.
China conducted military exercises shortly after Lai’s inauguration and continues to send warplanes and warships around Taiwan daily. Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang war games begin on Monday, aiming to simulate actual combat conditions.
Lai affirmed that the DPP will uphold a democratic and free constitutional system. “We will never allow Taiwan to face the danger of extinction due to the failure of democratic politics,” he concluded.
