Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has firmly rejected China’s proposed peace agreement, which he believes unreliable. He emphasized that true peace can only be achieved through “strength,” underscoring the need for strong alliances and self-defense. He reiterated his commitment to pursuing Taiwan’s independence despite China’s strong opposition.
According to reports from Taiwanese media, Lai attended a civil defense drill in the Nantou region on Tuesday. Lai stressed that the country must work together with the democratic camp to establish a deterrent against dictators and prevent war. He reiterated that Taiwan is not part of China and declared that he would never sign a peace agreement.
Lai further argued that “peace cannot be achieved by relying on agreements written on paper,” insisting that Taiwan can secure its future only through military strength. His comments suggest little interest in resolving the ongoing conflict with China over the “One China” principle dispute, which has been at the heart of tensions for decades.
The peace deal Lai dismissed originates from the “Eight Points” proposed by then-General Secretary Jiang Zemin in 1995, a framework for reunification that has remained stalled since its introduction.
Reactions within Taiwan’s political landscape have been divided. The ruling DPP agreed that peace depends on strengthening military capabilities and national defense. They emphasized the need to trust the peace network of democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific region and self-defense systems rather than trusting China.
However, the main opposition party, the Kuomintang, criticized the DPP’s approach, claiming that its “resisting China to protect Taiwan” has only continuously hurt the country. The People’s Party, another opposition group, condemned Lai’s remarks, arguing they could escalate cross-strait relations to a precarious situation. They deemed his statements inappropriate for a national leader and urged him to refrain from aggressive rhetoric.
China is expected to respond strongly, with analysts predicting a harsh criticism against Lai during the Foreign Ministry briefing on Thursday.
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