New Taiwan President Lai in inauguration speech urges China to end military intimidation

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te said in his inauguration speech Monday that he wants peace with China and urged it to end its military threats and intimidation against the autonomous island that Beijing claims as its own territory.

“I hope China will face the reality of (Taiwan’s) existence, respect the choices of the Taiwan people and, in good faith, choose dialogue over confrontation,” Lai said after taking the oath .

Lai pledged “not to give in or provoke” Beijing and said he sought peace in relations with China. But he stressed that the island democracy is determined to defend itself “in the face of numerous threats and infiltration attempts from China”.

Lai’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party, does not seek independence from China but maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation.

China’s 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 tolerate or approve any form of separatist activities related to Taiwan independence,” said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council.

“No matter how the situation on the island develops, no matter who is in power, it cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China…and cannot stop the historical trend towards a possible reunification of the homeland.” » Chen said.

China’s Commerce Ministry also announced sanctions on Monday against Boeing and two other defense companies over arms sales to Taiwan.

Lai, 64, succeeds Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating military threats from China. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and has increased its threats to annex it by force if necessary.

Lai is seen as the heir to Tsai’s progressive policies, including universal health care, support for higher education, and support for minority groups, including making Taiwan the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

In his inauguration speech, Lai pledged 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, emerged as a firebrand earlier in his career. In 2017, he described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” drawing criticism from Beijing. He has since softened his stance and now supports maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the possibility of talks with Beijing.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the presidential office building in Taipei for the inauguration ceremony. Dressed in white party hats, they watched the swearing-in on large screens, followed by a military march and colorful performances featuring folk dancers, opera artists and rappers. Military helicopters flew in formation, flying the Taiwan flag.

Lai accepted congratulations from fellow politicians and delegations from the 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as well as politicians from the United States, Japan and various European states.

Lai, also known by his English name William, pledged to continue his predecessor’s efforts to maintain stability with China while strengthening Taiwan’s security through imports of military equipment from its close partner States. -United States, the expansion of the defense industry with the manufacturing of submarines and the strengthening of regional partnerships with unofficial allies such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

U.S. 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 informal relations, and maintain cross-Strait peace and stability.” of Taiwan,” Blinken said in a statement from his office.

The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as a country, but is required by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said he continued to hope for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue through dialogue.

“Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are important not only for Japan’s security but also for the stability of the entire international community,” Hayashi said Monday.

Lai’s relatively conciliatory tone will seem reassuring to foreign governments who might have been concerned about his past 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 satisfy Beijing,” he said.

Although Lai indicated he would maintain the general direction of Tsai’s policy toward Beijing, he took a more sovereignist tone in his speech, said Amanda Hsiao, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“This probably fits with Beijing’s low expectations of Lai, so it won’t necessarily change their response,” Hsiao said. “China was always going to respond negatively to Lai.”

During her term, Tsai oversaw controversial pension and labor reform and extended the length of military conscription to one year. It also launched a military modernization campaign.

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 the lack of investment in rapid testing as the pandemic was progressing.

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Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.

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