President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked the US for its help in bolstering Taiwan’s defenses and said that Taipei would not give in to pressure, ahead of a summit between the US and Chinese leaders in Beijing this week.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) are holding two days of meetings tomorrow and on Friday where the issue of Taiwan is certain to come up.
The US is Taiwan's most important international backer despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties, and its main arms seller, to the anger of China.
Photo: CNA
"I would like to thank the United States for helping us strengthen our defense capabilities as part of its unwavering commitment to security," Lai said in English in a video message to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, without directly mentioning the Trump-Xi meeting.
Three decades ago Taiwan held its first free presidential election under the threat of missiles from China, he said, adding that Taiwan is an important beacon of democracy in Asia.
"The people of Taiwan have never backed down in the face of mounting external challenges, and they will never bow to pressure. Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation," Lai said.
"The Taiwanese people have every right to engage with the international community, and they are more than capable of contributing to it. No attempt to isolate Taiwan will alter our determination to participate in the international community," he said.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China detests Lai and calls him a "separatist". It has rejected repeated offers of talks from him.
Taiwan has complained of a stepped up pressure campaign by China to isolate it internationally, including last month when the government blamed Chinese pressure on three Indian Ocean countries for blocking Lai's flight to Eswatini.
Taiwan also faces mounting military pressure. China held its last full-scale war games around the nation in December last year.
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