
Taiwan President William Lai vows to protect island's security, industries
Taiwanese President William Lai has vowed to protect the island's security and industries, as it navigates ongoing tariff negotiations with the US and growing pressure from China. Mr Lai said preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, and to achieve the goal of peace. China's Taiwan Affairs Office has hit back, calling the leader a "separatist" and slamming his anniversary speech as a "two-faced tactic" that is "doomed to fail".
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