Taiwan President Lai: Peace secured through strength, not territory sacrificed

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te asserted on Sunday that peace can only be achieved through strength, emphasizing that not an inch of territory will be surrendered. His remarks were made during a visit to the frontline island of Kinmen, commemorating the 68th anniversary of a pivotal 1958 battle against Chinese forces. This clash, marking the second Taiwan Strait crisis, was the last large-scale engagement between Taiwanese and Chinese forces.

Lai, addressing veterans, expressed gratitude for their defense against what he termed "Communist totalitarian aggression." He stressed the unwavering resolve to protect national sovereignty and peace across the Taiwan Strait, stating, "Peace has never simply fallen from the sky." He reiterated that the 1958 battle demonstrated that "peace is secured through strength" and highlighted the necessity of maintaining the "spirit of never yielding an inch" of Taiwan and its associated islands, alongside continuous increases in military spending.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has labeled Lai a "separatist." Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, asserting that Taiwan's future is decided only by its people, while also offering dialogue with China. Kinmen is situated less than 2 km from Chinese-controlled territory. The 1958 bombardment of Kinmen and Matsu by Chinese forces, supported by naval and air battles, aimed to force submission but ended in a stalemate with U.S. support for Taiwan.

Lai also commented on China's recent "law enforcement" patrols around Kinmen, which began in early 2024, stating that China has not ceased its "ambitions for external expansion for even a single day" over the past 68 years, causing "unease" in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan's government announced on Thursday that its planned defense spending for the upcoming year will surpass T$1 trillion ($30 billion) for the first time, a budget Lai hopes will receive strong support.