Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te declared Thursday that the island is resolute in safeguarding its sovereignty and strengthening its defenses amid China’s growing assertiveness, following Beijing’s rocket launches during military drills near Taiwan.
The international community is watching to see whether the Taiwanese people possess the resolve to defend themselves, Lai said in a New Year’s speech broadcast live from the presidential office in Taipei.
“As president, my stance has always been clear: to resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defence,” Lai said, noting China had targeted Taiwan’s newly added combat capabilities as a “hypothetical adversary” in their drills this week.
“We are willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China on an equal and dignified basis, promoting a peaceful and shared environment across the strait,” Lai said. “As long as China acknowledges the existence of the Republic of China, respects the Taiwanese people’s desire for a democratic and free way of life.”
China Fired Dozens Of Rockets As Part Of Drills
After Lai’s address, China said he was trying to deceive Taiwanese and mislead international public opinion.
“Lai-Ching-te’s address is riddled with lies and reckless assertions, hostility and malice,” a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in comments reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
Lai’s speech came just two days after the Chinese exercises named “Justice Mission 2025”. China fired dozens of rockets towards Taiwan and deployed a large number of warships and aircraft near the island in a show of force that drew concern from Western allies including the European Commission and Britain.
Taipei condemned the drills as a threat to regional security and a blatant provocation. Beijing announced late on Wednesday that it had completed the drills, saying its military would continue to strengthen their combat-readiness.
The Chinese manoeuvres began 11 days after the United States had announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan. China’s military said for the first time that the drills were aimed at deterring outside intervention.
(With inputs from Reuters)
