“Compromising with authoritarian regimes comes at the cost of sovereignty and democracy,” President William Lai (賴清德) wrote on Facebook today, ahead of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
In the past few years, China has continuously carried out “gray zone” harassment and military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait, seriously undermining regional peace and stability, Lai said.
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the US’ Taiwan Relations Act, which together with the Six Assurances, stands as proof of the two nations’ continuing friendship, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
The relationship reflects a shared commitment to democratic values, freedom and human rights, and serves as a cornerstone of stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, Lai said.
Taiwan is widely recognized as a beacon of democracy, with a free and diverse society, consistently ranking among the top nations in Asia and occupying a key position along the First Island Chain, he said.
US congressional support for Taiwan’s security and well-being is bipartisan and one of the strongest areas of consensus in Washington, he added.
The world knows that protecting Taiwan is key to protecting freedom and democracy, Lai said.
Cheng is in China on what she has called a “peace” mission and met with Xi today.
“We hold ideals about peace, but they are not unrealistic fantasies; history shows that compromising with authoritarian regimes comes at the cost of sovereignty and democracy — it will not bring freedom, nor will it bring peace,” Lai said.
Peace is achieved through strength, and strength is achieved through long-term, stable investment, he said.
We need to show our determination to defend ourselves to earn our allies’ support, he added.
Taiwan’s national defense spending this year surpassed 3 percent of its GDP, in line with NATO standards, and is expected to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2030, Lai said.
The government has proposed an eight-year, US$40 billion special defense budget to build a “T-Dome,” a multi-layered air defense system, which would enhance asymmetric warfare capabilities, he said.
Taiwan hopes to partner with advanced defense industry nations such as the US to jointly establish a line of defense that safeguards democratic values, he added.
It is regrettable that the special defense budget remains stalled in the Legislative Yuan, with opposition parties boycotting negotiations and delaying a plan backed by about 70 percent of the public and supported by allies, the president said.
Delays weaken Taiwan’s defense capabilities and risk undermining international confidence in its commitment to self-defense, he said.
Facing external military threats and “united front” tactics, ruling and opposition parties should set aside their differences, because national security cannot wait and defense cannot be compromised, Lai said.
“Let us stand united, support the defense budget and show the world that Taiwan has the will, determination and capability to safeguard our hard-earned democracy and freedom,” he said.
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