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In his inaugural address, President Lai backs status quo with China
The new head of state urges Beijing to end its political and military threats, upholding outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen's political line. He will face several domestic challenges, such as a deeply divided parliament and the rising cost of living.
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Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Lai Ching-te is officially the new president of Taiwan. During his inauguration address, he called on China to end its political and military threats and replace confrontation with dialogue in favour of lasting peace.
The president’s words signal his desire to maintain the status quo and avoid direct confrontation with Beijing, which considers the island a "rebel province", part of its territory.
“I also want to urge China to stop intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily, and to take on the global responsibility with Taiwan to work hard on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region, to ensure the world is without the fear of war breaking out," said Lai, who also goes by the given name William.
“We also want to declare this to the world: Taiwan makes no concessions on democracy and freedom. Peace is the only option and prosperity is our goal for long-term peace and stability."
There was no immediate reaction from China, which has repeatedly described Lai as a "separatist." Before the elections, in January, Beijing even called for Lai to be prosecuted for secession because early in his political career he backed Taiwan’s full independence.
In his first move, the 64-year-old is showing continuity with the political line of his predecessor, President Tsai Ing-wen, whom he served as vice president for four years.
A doctor by training, Lai managed to secure a third presidential term for the Democratic Progressive Party, despite a drop in support among young people.
"Fellow citizens, we have the ideal to pursue peace, but we must not have illusions," he said this morning. “Before China gives up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this: Even if we accept all of China's claims and give up our sovereignty, China's ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear.”
Lai went to reiterate that the Republic of China – Taiwan’s official name – and the People's Republic of China "are not subordinate to each other", words that indicate his desire to uphold President Tsai's political legacy.
Tsai believed that bolstering defence and gaining the support of important allies like the United States and Japan were key to deterring Chinese invasion plans. However, the main opposition party, the Kuomintang, argues that such rhetoric risks provoking Beijing.
In fact, China's military incursions into the island's waters and airspace have become routine in recent years.
In its daily report on Chinese military activities over the past 24 hours, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence noted that six Chinese planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait (a sort of informal border never recognised by Beijing).
Given the situation, Taiwan has boosted its defence spending to US$ 20 billion under Tsai, purchasing new battle tanks, upgraded its fighter jets and buying new ones, and building a fleet of missile ships to patrol the Strait, as well as its first, domestically-developed submarine.
In line with this, President Lai has promised greater investments in defence.
This morning's inauguration ceremony was attended by former US officials and politicians from various countries, including Japan, Germany, and Canada, as well as leaders of some of the 12 countries that still maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai, saying that the United States looks forward to working together “to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait".
For the new president, there will be no shortage of domestic challenges. In addition to unemployment and the rising cost of living, the Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in parliament (Legislative Yuan) in the January election.
Last week, a brawl broke out in the divided parliament among some lawmakers during a debate on a bill to reform its powers.
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