Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has made an emphatic call for dialogue with China, emphasizing the need for peaceful negotiations amid "multifold changes" in the global landscape. Speaking to press officials, President Lai highlighted the importance of initiating talks over confrontation in order to achieve lasting peace. This appeal comes as China continues to increase military and political pressure on Taiwan, a democratically-governed island it views as sovereign Chinese territory.
In his statement, President Lai reiterated Taiwan's willingness to engage in discussions with China based on equality and without any preconditions. He emphasized that Taiwan's future should be determined solely by its people. The President's repeated calls for dialogue with Beijing have yet to elicit a response from China's Taiwan Affairs Office.
"Therefore, we should, especially at a time of multifold changes in the international situation, have a good dialogue and exchanges between the two sides of the strait in order to achieve the goal of peace."
- Lai Ching-te
The complex history between Taiwan and China traces back to 1949 when the defeated Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communist forces, who subsequently established the People's Republic of China in Beijing. Despite this historical backdrop, President Lai stresses that Taiwan and China share common enemies, such as natural disasters, and a mutual interest in ensuring the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
While advocating for dialogue, President Lai also underscores the necessity for Taiwan to bolster its defenses in pursuit of "peace through strength." This stance aligns with current geopolitical tensions, including those influenced by U.S. policies under former President Donald Trump, which imposed tariffs on China and threatened similar actions against imported semiconductors—a sector where Taiwan holds significant influence.
"Only with sovereignty is there the country. Only with Taiwan is there the Republic of China."
- Lai Ching-te
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