President-elect Lai Ching-te stated on Thursday that China should feel at ease engaging with Taiwan’s democratically elected government. He also announced the formation of his new national security and diplomatic team despite facing significant challenges.
In the last four years, China, viewing Taiwan as its integral territory, has escalated military and political tensions with Taipei to reinforce its sovereignty claims, despite strong opposition from the island.
Beijing particularly opposes Lai, who won the January election and will take office on May 20, viewing him as a risky separatist. Lai asserts that only the Taiwanese people have the right to determine their future and has extended multiple offers for dialogue with China, all of which have gone unanswered.
Lai, while introducing the new national security teams composed of individuals transferred from existing roles within the administration, informed reporters that they faced an unprecedented challenge due to the rise of authoritarianism and the continual pressure exerted by China.
He also made the same offer to Beijing to speak.
“I am very much looking forward to China having the confidence to engage with the elected and legitimate government that the Taiwan people have entrusted. That is the right way for cross-strait exchange,” he stated.
In a veiled mention of the primary opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT), whose senior members have been making frequent visits to China lately, Lai suggested that Beijing would not garner support from the Taiwanese people if they insisted on engaging only with the opposition under certain “political preconditions.”
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond promptly to a request for comment. Beijing has consistently stated that talks cannot commence unless Taiwan’s government acknowledges the principle of “one China,” a stance rejected by President Tsai Ing-wen and Lai but supported by the KMT.
Lai said that Wellington Koo, who has a legal background and currently serves as the secretary-general of the National Security Council, will replace Chiu Kuo-cheng, a retired army general, as defense minister.
He also mentioned that Lin Chia-lung, currently serving as the secretary-general in the Presidential Office, will assume the role of the new foreign minister, while Joseph Wu, the current foreign minister, will take over Wellington Koo’s position as the head of the National Security Council.
Chiu Chui-cheng, previously a deputy on the council with extensive experience in China policy, has been named as the head of the Mainland Affairs Council, the primary policy-making institution concerning China.
Tsai Ming-yen, who serves as the head of intelligence, remains in charge of the National Security Bureau.
Before the official announcement, Taiwanese media extensively covered the names of the new ministers.