Key facts
- Taiwan must protect its democracy and not become part of China, President Lai Ching-te said.
- Lai urged vigilance against Beijing's 'red terror' and authoritarian expansion.
- He cited China's new ethnic unity law as a potential pretext for action.
- Lai affirmed Taiwan's constitutional name is the Republic of China, an independent country.
- The president stated Taiwan's future must be determined solely by its 23 million people.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te declared that the island must unite to safeguard its democracy and prevent it from falling under Chinese control. Speaking at the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) annual convention, Lai urged vigilance against what he termed Beijing's 'red terror' and 'legal warfare,' citing China's new ethnic unity law as a potential pretext for action against Taiwanese citizens.
Lai, who leads the DPP, which champions Taiwan's distinct identity, emphasized that Taiwan is already an independent country, constitutionally named the Republic of China, and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. He asserted that the island's future must be determined solely by its 23 million people.
The president also highlighted Taiwan's resilience over the past decade in the face of military threats, disinformation, and diplomatic pressure, stating that democracy represents strength, not weakness. China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, has consistently rejected Lai's calls for dialogue and labeled him a 'separatist.' The two sides have technically been in a civil war since 1949, with no peace treaty ever signed.