Getty ImagesPresident Lai adopted a tougher tone toward China than his predecessor.
In his most high-profile speech since taking office earlier this year, President William Lai vowed to maintain Taiwan’s autonomous status.
“We will keep our promise to resist annexation and violations of our sovereignty,” Lai said, making a thin reference to China’s claims to the island.
Lai was addressing a crowd in Taipei to commemorate Taiwan’s National Day, just nine days after communist China celebrated its 75th anniversary.
At the same time, Lai pledged to maintain “the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and to cooperate with Beijing on issues such as combating climate change, infectious diseases and maintaining regional security.
“The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not mutually dependent,” he said, referring to the Taipei and Beijing governments, respectively.
He added: “Democracy and freedom flourish here. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.”
Mr. Lai earlier sought to reassure visitors that he had no intention of further provoking the Chinese government, telling visitors there were “no surprises” in his National Day speech.
The disclaimer followed several speeches by President Lai over the past few months that some considered provocative.
Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University, told the BBC in reference to Thursday’s speech: “The speech was much calmer and less sarcastic than recent speeches.” “This leaves much less ammunition for China to use against him.”
“Yet, Beijing will still find plenty of reasons to dislike this speech,” he added.
Nachman said he expected a strong response from Beijing in the form of additional military exercises in the coming days.
Lai said last week that it was “absolutely impossible” for China to become Taiwan’s “motherland” because the island’s government was established in 1911, decades before mainland China’s current communist regime was established in 1949. “It’s possible,” he said.
“On the contrary, the Republic of China may actually be the homeland of citizens of the People’s Republic of China over the age of 75,” Lai said at a concert to commemorate Taiwan’s National Day on Saturday.
Taiwan maintains the constitution of the Republic of China, which was founded on mainland China. After losing a long civil war with the Communists in 1949, the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan and has been based there ever since.
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Lai addressed a crowd in Taipei to mark Taiwan’s National Day, just nine days after Communist China celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Last month, Lai also questioned China’s assertion that its claims to the autonomous islands are based on territorial integrity. If so, he suggested, the Chinese government would also move forward with reclaiming other so-called historical lands that once belonged to the Chinese empire.
“If China wants to annex Taiwan… it’s not for territorial integrity,” Lai said in an interview marking his 100th day in office.
“If it’s really about territorial integrity, why doesn’t China take back Russia?”
Lai referred to the 1858 Treaty of Patriotism, which provided for China to cede large swathes of Manchuria to Russia. The concession came during what China calls the “century of humiliation,” when the West and Japan exploited the weakened Qing dynasty.
The Chinese government hit back Wednesday, saying President Lai was escalating tensions with “evil intentions.”
The China Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement: “Mr. Lai Qingde’s fallacy regarding Taiwan independence is nothing more than old wine in a new bottle, and his stubborn stance on Taiwan independence and efforts to intensify hostility and conflict. “This has once again exposed their sinister intentions.”
Lai succeeded former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, also from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), after elections in January.
Mr. Lai’s previous public comments are seen by many political observers as more advanced than those of his predecessor, who was more cautious in public speaking.
But despite the administration’s more confrontational tone, Lai has emphasized his position of maintaining the “status quo” between Taiwan and China.
He argues that there is no need for Taiwan to declare independence because it is already an independent and sovereign state that has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China.
Lai also devoted a significant portion of Thursday’s speech to domestic issues such as energy, climate change and housing.
