Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday stated that there is “no room for compromise” over the sovereignty of the island nation and warned China that resorting to war must not be an option for cross-strait relations.
Tsai Ing-Wen made the remarks in a speech marking Taiwan’s National Day, also called Double Ten Day. “The consensus of the Taiwanese people … is to defend our sovereignty and our free and democratic way of life. There is no room for compromise on this,” President Ing-wen said during her national day speech.
“I call on the Beijing authorities that resorting to war must not be the option for cross-strait relations,” Tsai said and added, “Only by respecting the Taiwanese people’s insistence on sovereignty, freedom, and democracy can we resume positive interactions across the Taiwan Strait.”, she added.
The event was attended by international guests, including the President of Palau, one of 14 countries that have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan. US congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Democrat from Texas, was also in attendance.
The Taiwanese President drew a parallel to the Russia-Ukraine conflict
“Russia continues its war against Ukraine, while China’s military activity in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We absolutely cannot ignore the challenge that these military expansions pose to the free and democratic world order. “These developments are inextricably connected with Taiwan,” she said.
Earlier, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen had pledged Taiwan’s resolve to engage with the world to counter “a resurgence of authoritarianism,” despite Beijing’s threats.
Taiwan has been facing repeated incursions from China’s military, especially after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’ visit. Live-fire missile tests, large-scale military manoeuvres all along China’s coast, warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and civilian drones flying over Taiwan-held islands close to China have all become more common since Pelosi’s trip.