Lai declared that he would “uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty,” a hardly concealed allusion to China’s claim to the island.
Just nine days after Communist China commemorated its 75th anniversary, Lai was addressing a throng in Taipei on the occasion of Taiwan’s National Day celebration.
Lai concurrently vowed to uphold “the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and committed to working with Beijing on matters pertaining to infectious disease prevention, climate change mitigation, and regional security.
He stated, “The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China are not subordinate to each other,” referring to the separate administrations in Taipei and Beijing.
Freedom and democracy are flourishing in this land. He went on to say that Taiwan cannot be represented by the People’s Republic of China.
In an attempt to ensure guests that he would not further stir up trouble in Beijing, Lai had earlier promised there would be “no surprises” in his national day speech.
The disclaimer came after President Lai gave a number of remarks in recent months that some people thought were inflammatory.
“Compared to his previous speeches, this one was considerably more subdued and less caustic,” Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University, said.
