Conflicts - TensionsNortheast Asia

Taiwan’s new president affirms quest for peace, stability

FORUM Staff

At his recent inauguration, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te affirmed his pledge to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Lai, elected in January 2024 after serving as vice president since 2020, again called for dialogue between the leaders of the self-governed island and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which are separated by the 180-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait.

Lai urged the PRC to “stop intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily, and to take on the global responsibility with Taiwan to work hard on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region, to ensure the world is without the fear of war breaking out.”

“We also want to declare this to the world: Taiwan makes no concessions on democracy and freedom,” he said. “Peace is the only option and prosperity is our goal for long-term peace and stability.”

The PRC claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens to annex the island by force. Its bullying and coercion include deploying military aircraft and warships near the island, banning some imports from Taiwan and engaging in information manipulation campaigns.

Lai repeated the position of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, that Taiwan and the PRC are not subordinate to each other. He called on the PRC to “respect the choices of the people of Taiwan and, in good faith, choose dialogue over confrontation, exchange over containment and, under the principles of parity and dignity, engage in cooperation with the legal government chosen by Taiwan’s people.”

Lai’s inauguration in May 2024 means a third consecutive four-year term for the Democratic Progressive Party. Tsai, who left office after eight years because of term limits, led major defense reforms, including extending compulsory military conscription from four months to one year and launching Taiwan’s first domestically produced submarine. She also enhanced Taiwan’s reputation in the world by strengthening ties with the United States and other Allies and Partners, analysts say.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai and praised Tsai for enhancing Taiwan-U.S. relations.

“We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwan’s political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our long-standing unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken said in a statement.

Since 1979, the U.S. has acknowledged the PRC as the “sole legal government of China” according to its “One China” policy. Although Washington does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei, under its Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has an expansive economic relationship with the island through the American Institute of Taiwan and provides defense assets to Taiwan to “maintain a self-sufficient capability.”

The U.S. is providing up to $2 billion a year in military aid to Taiwan through 2027 under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023.

“The partnership between the American people and the Taiwan people, rooted in democratic values, continues to broaden and deepen across trade, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties,” Blinken said.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called Taiwan a “very important partner and friend” of Japan, telling reporters that Tokyo “would like to further deepen and evolve bilateral ties” with Taipei.

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