Lai Qing’s Delegation Day speech: “Strengthening national defense is a deterrent, not a provocation.” The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council jumped on the bandwagon

President Lai Ching-te delivered a National Day speech today (10th). He emphasized that strengthening national defense is a deterrent rather than a provocation. Spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, Zhang Han, said that Lai Ching-te's speech exaggerated the China threat, advocated the false narrative of democracy versus authoritarianism, attempted to use force to seek independence, relied on foreign countries to seek independence, provoked cross-strait confrontation, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

President Lai said that 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."

Lai Qingde also mentioned that our increase in defense investment is not to provoke, but to deter war; our strengthening of self-defense is not to give up dialogue, but to ensure that dialogue can be conducted on the basis of reciprocity and dignity. We are happy to see the United States and China manage competition through dialogue and reduce the risk of conflict and war. However, to maintain regional security, peace and stability, we must not only correctly understand the development of history, never allow distortion of the history of World War II, but also respect the right of the Taiwanese people to survive. 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.

Zhang Han said that Lai Qingde's speech ignored the facts, confounded right and wrong, misled the people, and had ulterior motives. This was his true performance as a pragmatic Taiwan independence worker. In his speech, Lai Qingde stubbornly held the separatist mentality of Taiwan independence, exaggerated the China threat, advocated the false narrative of democracy versus authoritarianism, attempted to use force to seek independence, relied on foreign countries to seek independence, provoked cross-strait confrontation, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang Han said that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. This is the real status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The one-China principle is the basic norm of international relations and the general consensus of the international community. It is also an important part of the post-World War II international order. Taiwan's future can only and must be decided jointly by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.

She said that we will adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, broadly unite compatriots from all walks of life in Taiwan, resolutely combat Taiwan independence separatist forces, oppose interference from external forces, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We will uphold the concept of one family on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, deepen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and promote the great cause of motherland reunification and national rejuvenation.