We are happy to see the United States and China reduce the risk of war! Lai Ching-te: Taiwan is willing to communicate but will not accept being dwarfed

President Lai Qingde delivered his third National Day speech today (10th) after taking office. He pointed out that he is happy to see the United States and China manage competition and reduce the risk of conflict and war through dialogue. To maintain regional security, peace and stability, we must not only correctly understand historical development and never allow distortion of World War II history, but also respect the right of the Taiwanese people to survive, and combine the common strength of democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region. "Taiwan is willing to communicate, but will not accept being dwarfed."

Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan’s territory is not large, but it protects democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law and prevents authoritarianism from eroding precious universal values. We do not seek hegemony, nor do we seek to dominate others. We are well aware of the cost of conflict, so we choose to uphold peace as our own responsibility and become a trustworthy stabilizing force for the international community.

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Changing the topic, Lai Ching-te warned, "Peace cannot be based on wishes alone, and tolerance cannot be a reason for the aggressor to advance." China continues to use military and gray zone operations to exert pressure in an attempt to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. In the face of authoritarian expansion, Taiwan's persistence is not only related to its own survival, but also to whether the international community still believes that force cannot override rules, and power cannot deprive the people of their right to determine the future.

Therefore, Lai Qingde said that we should continue to promote national defense reform, strengthen asymmetric combat capabilities, develop independent national defense industries, and transform the advantages of semiconductors, information communications, and precision manufacturing into the power to protect the country. Through preparations for the defense resilience of the whole society, we integrate central, local and private energy to enhance the sustainable operation capabilities of energy, communications, transportation, finance, food and medical care. Let society be able to operate stably when a crisis comes, and people know how to protect themselves and help each other.

Lai Qingde said that he would like to thank all the officers and soldiers of the People's Republic of China, reserve soldiers, police, fire fighters, medical and civil defense personnel, as well as the Chinese people who participated in the exercise. Every serious preparation is to build an extra line of defense for Taiwan's peace. Increasing defense investment is not to provoke, but to deter war; strengthening self-defense is not to give up on dialogue, but to ensure that dialogue can be conducted on the basis of reciprocity and dignity.

In addition, Lai Ching-te mentioned that he is happy to see the United States and China manage competition through dialogue and reduce the risk of conflicts and wars. However, it must also be pointed out that in order to maintain regional security, peace and stability, we must not only correctly understand the development of history and never allow distortion of the history of World War II, but also respect the right of the Taiwanese people to survive. We must also combine the common strength of democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region to prevent the status quo of regional peace and stability from being changed.

Lai Qingde bluntly said that Taiwan cherishes peace, but will not give up freedom; Taiwan is willing to communicate, but will not accept being dwarfed. Taiwan has demonstrated its determination not to let authoritarianism erode democracy, not to let fear replace freedom, and to take firm and responsible actions to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific.