Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-de said in his first National Day speech on Thursday that he had pledged to resist any moves toward Chinese annexation or invasion.
“The Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name) and the People’s Republic of China are not dependent on each other,” Prime Minister Lai told the crowd attending a ceremony held in a square outside the Presidential Office building in Taipei.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-governing democracy part of its territory.
“Democracy and freedom are growing and thriving in this land. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan,” Lai said.
Lai said his job as president is to ensure the country continues and develops and unites Taiwan’s 23 million people. “I will also keep my promise to resist any annexation or infringement of our sovereignty,” Prime Minister Lai said.
“We hope that China will live up to the expectations of the international community and use its influence and cooperate with other countries to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East,” Lai said.
Prime Minister Lai said Taiwan is willing to work with China to jointly combat climate change, combat the epidemic, safeguard regional security and aim for peaceful coexistence.
Prime Minister Lai pledged to further strengthen Taiwan’s resilience in four key areas: defence, economic life, disaster prevention, and democracy.
“The better our society is prepared, the safer our country will be, and the greater peace and stability will come to the Taiwan Strait,” Prime Minister Lai said.
