Christian Smith
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, said in his inauguration speech Monday that he wants peace with China and urged it to stop military threats and intimidation of the island autonomy that Beijing claims as its own. territory.
“I hope China will face the reality of (Taiwan’s) existence, respect the choices of the Taiwanese people, and in good faith choose dialogue over confrontation,” Lai said after taking office.
Lai promised “not to give in to or provoke” Beijing and said he sought peace in relations with China. But he emphasized that the island democracy is determined to defend itself “in the face of China’s many threats and infiltration attempts.”
Lai’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party, does not seek independence from China but claims that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation.
The Chinese office in charge of Taiwan affairs criticized Lai’s inauguration speech as promoting “the fallacy of separatism”, inciting confrontation and relying on foreign forces to seek independence.
“We will never condone or condone any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities,” said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council.
“No matter how the situation on the island changes, no matter who is in power, it cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China… and it cannot stop the historical trend towards eventual reunification of the motherland,” Chen said. .
The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Monday also announced sanctions against Boeing and two other defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan.
Lai, 64, replaces Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and growing military threats from China. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and has increased its threats to annex it by force if necessary.
Lai is seen as an heir to Tsai’s progressive policies, including universal health care, support for higher education and support for minority groups, including making Taiwan the first place in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.
In his inauguration speech, Lai promised to strengthen Taiwan’s social safety net and help the island advance in areas such as artificial intelligence and green energy.
Lai, who was vice president during Tsai’s second term, seemed more like a firebrand early in his career. In 2017, he described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” which drew rebuke from Beijing. He has since softened his position and now supports maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the possibility of talks with Beijing.
Thousands of people gathered in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei for the opening ceremony. Wearing white celebratory hats, they watched the inauguration on big screens, followed by a military march and colorful performances by folk dancers, opera artists and rappers. Military helicopters flew in formation, carrying the Taiwanese flag.
Lai accepted congratulations from fellow politicians and delegations from the 12 nations that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as well as politicians from the US, Japan and several European states.
Lai, also known by his English name William, has vowed to continue his predecessor’s effort to maintain stability with China while bolstering Taiwan’s security by importing military equipment from close partner the US, expanding industry of defense with the manufacture of submarines and aircraft and the strengthening of regional partnerships with unofficial allies such as the USA, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken congratulated Lai on his inauguration. “We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwan’s political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our long-standing unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken said in a statement from your office.
The US does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country, but is obliged by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
Lai’s relatively conciliatory tone will appear reassuring to foreign governments that may have been concerned about his former reputation as a firebrand, said Danny Russell, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
“There is virtually nothing Lai could have said, other than ‘unconditional surrender,’ that would have satisfied Beijing,” he said.
While Lai signaled he would maintain Tsai’s general policy direction toward Beijing, he struck a more sovereignty-affirming tone in his speech, said Amanda Hsiao, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.
“This probably fits with Beijing’s low expectations for Lai, so it won’t necessarily change its response,” Hsiao said. “China would always respond negatively to Lai.”
During her tenure, Tsai oversaw a controversial pension and labor reform and extended the military conscription period to one year. She also began a military modernization effort.
Tsai’s leadership during the pandemic has divided public opinion, with most admiring Taiwan’s initial ability to keep the virus largely outside its borders but criticizing its lack of investment in rapid testing as the pandemic progressed. .
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