Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Discusses China’s Intentions and Global Support
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has claimed that China’s desire to annex Taiwan is not driven by territorial integrity, but rather about altering the ‘rules-based world order’ to achieve hegemony. In a recent interview, President Lai argued that if China’s motive for invading Taiwan is truly about territorial integrity, it should focus on reclaiming land ceded to Russia in the 19th century.
Lai reiterated the principles of his ‘Four Commitments’ and the ‘Four-Pillar Plan’ for peace, emphasizing international support for Taiwan. He framed the Taiwan Strait issue as ‘not only a matter between Taiwan and China but also an issue for the Indo-Pacific and even the entire world.’
Lai noted that amid its war with Ukraine, ‘Now is the time when Russia is at its weakest, and China could demand back the lands ceded in the Treaty of Aigun during the Qing Dynasty, but they haven’t.’ He added, ‘This clearly shows that the intention to invade Taiwan is not about territorial concerns.’
Further, Lai stressed that unity is the most crucial thing for Taiwan right now and asserted that only by standing together against Chinese aggression can Taiwan secure its future. He emphasized that no political party can stop China’s aggression simply by what they say or do.
Lai highlighted that democratic Taiwan has spread its values globally. He argued that the people of Taiwan desire a democratic and free way of life, which should not be seen by China as a challenge. Lai pointed out that if China only wanted to take Taiwan, there would be no need to expand its military presence in the East and South China Seas or to conduct joint military exercises with Russia.
He expressed his hope that opposition parties ‘can see this clearly.’ Lai emphasized that Taiwan hopes for peaceful cross-strait development and that the government has a responsibility to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. However, he stressed that the methods must be appropriate and carried out with dignity.
He detailed the recent expressions of support for Taiwan from the international community, including Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, European Union countries, and the recently concluded G7 summit. He noted that all these entities have expressed the view that ‘maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is indispensable for international security and prosperity.’
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and is known for its technology and democracy.
Lai Ching-te -: Lai Ching-te is the President of Taiwan. He is a leader who talks about keeping Taiwan safe and free.
China’s intentions -: China wants to make Taiwan a part of its country. This is called annexation.
global order -: Global order means how countries around the world work together and follow rules. China wants to change these rules to become more powerful.
hegemony -: Hegemony means being the most powerful country and having control over others. China wants to be the top country in the world.
US President Joe Biden -: Joe Biden is the President of the United States, a very powerful country. He supports Taiwan’s freedom.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio -: Kishida Fumio is the leader of Japan, another important country. He also supports Taiwan.
democratic values -: Democratic values mean people have the power to choose their leaders and have freedoms like speech and voting. Taiwan follows these values.
cross-strait development -: Cross-strait development means improving the relationship and cooperation between Taiwan and China, which are separated by the Taiwan Strait.
