Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te addressed the escalating tensions with China in a press conference marking his first month in office. He accused China of aiming to annex Taiwan and using a combination of military might and coercive tactics to force its submission.
Lai stressed Taiwan’s defiance in the face of these pressures, pledging to safeguard the island’s sovereignty and democratic way of life. He characterized China’s recent military exercises, which saw warships, fighter jets, and coastguard vessels encircle Taiwan, as a blatant attempt to intimidate and practice a takeover.
These exercises, labeled Joint Sword-2024A, were initiated by Beijing as a direct response to Lai’s inauguration speech, which they perceived as a declaration of Taiwanese independence. Beijing has vowed to maintain military pressure as long as they perceive “Taiwan independence” provocations.
The heart of the matter lies in China’s longstanding claim over Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province. This claim is vehemently rejected by Taiwan, which maintains its own independent government, military, and currency.
While Lai’s stance echoes that of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, by asserting Taiwan’s existing independence, China views him as a dangerous separatist. This stance has prevented high-level communication between the two governments since 2016.
