True peace can only be achieved by safeguarding Taiwan’s sovereignty, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday at a memorial marking the 37th anniversary of democracy advocate Deng Nan-jung’s (鄭南榕) death.
Lai said he hoped that through annual commemorative events, Taiwanese across generations can understand that the nation’s journey from a dark era of authoritarian rule to today’s open and democratic society was not a gift from dictators, but the result of the sacrifices and dedication of countless democracy activists, as well as the collective courage of Taiwanese.
Deng founded the Freedom Era Weekly magazine in 1984, when Taiwan was still under martial law, and was a firm advocate of Taiwanese independence.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
He self-immolated on April 7, 1989, after being charged with sedition for publishing a “Draft Constitution of the Taiwan Republic” in January. He was 41.
Lai also signaled his willingness to engage in cross-strait exchanges.
“Based on the principles of equality and dignity, Taiwan is willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China to promote peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The president also reiterated the four pillars of his peace framework, first introduced in his inaugural address in May 2024.
The first pillar is strengthening national defense, including arms procurement and the development of indigenous capabilities.
The second is enhancing economic resilience.
Taiwanese investment in China has dropped from 83.8 percent of total outbound investments in 2010 to 3.7 percent last year, reflecting a strategy of being “rooted in Taiwan through global deployment and distribution,” he said.
The third pillar is deepening cooperation with democratic partners to safeguard regional stability, with Lai citing G7 statements emphasizing the importance of peace across the Taiwan Strait.
The fourth is maintaining stable cross-strait interactions based on equality and dignity.
“In short, Taiwan is not part of the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
Taiwanese have the right to pursue a democratic and free way of life grounded in human rights, the president said.
Such aspirations should not be viewed as provocation, he said, voicing his hope that younger people would continue to safeguard the democratic foundation built by previous generations.
Speaking at the event, Deng’s daughter, Cheng Chu-mei (鄭竹梅), said that in the final issue of Freedom Era Weekly, her father asked whether China might invade Taiwan — a concern that remains relevant today.
True peace cannot be brought about by appeasement and surrender, but through solidarity, communication and the capacity for self-protection, Cheng said.
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