Taiwan's Lai: Island's Fate Must Not Be Decided by "External Force"

(MENAFN) Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te issued a defiant declaration Wednesday, asserting that Taiwan's destiny belongs solely to its people and must never be surrendered to outside pressure, fear, or internal division.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of his inauguration, Lai called on both ruling and opposition parties to present a united front against external threats, according to media. "Taiwan's future must not be determined by external forces or hijacked by fear, division or short-term benefits," Lai said, adding that it must be decided collectively by Taiwan's 23 million people.

Lai framed the island's democratic system as a hard-won legacy built on generations of sacrifice, urging political rivals to set aside differences in the interest of national cohesion when confronting external threats and safeguarding national interests.

Lai took office in May 2024 following an electoral victory earlier that year, with a four-year term running through 2028. His Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), however, holds a minority in the local legislature, forcing his administration to rely on cross-party negotiations to advance its agenda.

On cross-strait relations, Lai reaffirmed Taiwan's openness to dialogue with Beijing — but strictly on the basis of parity and dignity — while firmly rejecting what he characterized as "united front" tactics designed to shape public opinion and erode democratic institutions.

Beijing responded sharply. A spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, dismissed the address in pointed terms carried by Xinhua News, stating that Lai had "stubbornly adhered to a separatist stance" since assuming office and labeling him "the biggest source of instability" in the region. The spokesperson further charged that Lai's remarks "fully exposed his bluster and weakness" and accused him of advancing separatist positions that threaten cross-strait stability.

Beijing closed its statement with a firm reiteration of its longstanding position — that there is "one China" and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it — vowing that no words or actions would reverse what it described as the inevitable historical trajectory toward reunification.

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