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The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Taiwan president calls for peace and dialogue with China amid heightened military activity
Taiwan's president has reiterated calls for peace and dialogue with China as he marked one year in office, amid heightened Chinese military activity and worsening political division at home. Lai Ching-te, who was inaugurated a year ago, told reporters on Tuesday that a war would have 'no winners', but Taiwan would continue to strengthen its defences to ward off a Chinese invasion or attempt to annex it by force. 'It is the aggressor who undermines peace … Taiwan is a peace-loving nation, and our society values goodwill,' he said on Tuesday in response to questions after his formal address. 'I am deeply committed to peace, because peace is priceless, and in war there are no winners.' 'However, whilst our pursuit of peace is sincere, it must not be naive.' He urged Beijing to restart dialogue with his government on equal terms, 'using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation'. China's ruling Communist party (CCP) cut all ties and dialogue with Taiwan's government when Lai's predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, won the 2016 election for their pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive party. The CCP considers the party to be unlawful separatists. In response to the president's speech, China's official state media, Xinhua, accused Lai of 'deliberately escalating' cross-Strait tensions. 'Since taking office, the Lai Ching-te administration has brazenly pursued 'Taiwan independence' to serve partisan and personal gain, charging headlong down a path of division and confrontation that threatens the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,' it said. In recent weeks China's military launched larger than usual numbers of planes and ships into Taiwan's air defence identification zone – an average of about 20 planes and 11 navy and coastguard ships each day. Taiwan authorities had publicly warned of likely Chinese retaliation or pre-emptive activity in response to the speech. Last week government officials told reporters they couldn't rule out military drills in the days after Lai spoke, and on Monday the coast guard said Beijing could launch 'political warfare' to disrupt public morale in Taiwan. Lai has taken a more publicly assertive stance against China's aggression than his predecessor Tsai, which analysts had been expecting his inauguration anniversary speech to continue. Earlier this month he said Taiwan was facing a similar threat to Europe in the 1930s. However the speech on Tuesday in the end made no mention of China or its annexation plans, and his related comments only came in response to questions in the subsequent press conference. Instead the speech focused on domestic pledges to reduce carbon emissions, plans to deal with the US Trump administration's punitive tariffs, and domestic political turmoil. 'The trade de-escalation reached between Beijing and Washington has generated anxiety in Taipei over whether the issue of Taiwan may emerge in future US-China talks,' said Amanda Hsiao, a director in Eurasia Group's China practice, referring to fears Beijing may seek a softening of the US's longstanding support of Taiwan. 'This uncertainty may be a factor for why Lai chose not to reiterate his views on the China threat in a high profile speech.' Amid worsening domestic political turmoil Lai announced he would offer national security briefings to the chair of the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT and another rival party, the TPP, control the majority of seats in Taiwan's legislature and have been accused of blocking Lai's agenda. The opposition parties have accused Lai and his Democratic Progressive party of increasing tensions with China and stifling opposition. In the name of national security, Lai's administration has increased scrutiny of Chinese-born people in Taiwan, and cracked down on public statements that support Beijing's goals. The KMT welcomed the new briefings as Lai having 'finally taken a small step' to end partisan conflict, but said he had much more to do.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taiwan marathon organizers apologize after giving out prizes in the shape of a Chinese machine gun
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The organizers of a marathon in southern Taiwan, including a member of the self-governing island republic's legislature, apologized Sunday after giving out prizes in the shape of a golden Chinese machine gun. Legislator Hsu Chi-chieh, of the ruling Democratic Progressive party that favors the island's independence from China, apologized and said the use of the image of a Chinese QBZ-95 on trophies for top winners was an unintentional mistake. Those given the trophies would be given the option of choosing a different one. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring it under its control. In an address to the island last week, President William Lai Ching-te reminded residents that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a 'foreign hostile force' and said tougher measures were being taken to prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges. Lai warned also of the danger of influential figures and serving and retired members of the military selling secrets to China. Underscoring the apparent incompetence behind the incident, the Fengshan Marathon held near the major southern port of Kaohsiung wound its way through the Taiwanese Military Academy, the Army Infantry Training Command and the Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School, all affiliated with the Defense Ministry. The Fengshan Road Running Association apologized for the use of the Chinese rifle and said a weapon had been selected because of this year race's affiliation with the military, but said nothing as to why a weapon in current use with China's ground forces was chosen. The Defense Ministry was quoted by the official Central News Agency as saying it had provided facilities but had nothing to do with organizing the race or the choice of prizes. Military service, now lengthened to one year, is compulsory for all Taiwanese men, making them familiar with rifles and other weapons used by the army.
Washington Post
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Taiwan marathon organizers apologize after giving out prizes in the shape of a Chinese machine gun
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The organizers of a marathon in southern Taiwan, including a member of the self-governing island republic's legislature, apologized Sunday after giving out prizes in the shape of a golden Chinese machine gun. Legislator Hsu Chi-chieh, of the ruling Democratic Progressive party that favors the island's independence from China, apologized and said the use of the image of a Chinese QBZ-95 on trophies for top winners was an unintentional mistake. Those given the trophies would be given the option of choosing a different one.
Associated Press
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Taiwan marathon organizers apologize after giving out prizes in the shape of a Chinese machine gun
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The organizers of a marathon in southern Taiwan, including a member of the self-governing island republic's legislature, apologized Sunday after giving out prizes in the shape of a golden Chinese machine gun. Legislator Hsu Chi-chieh, of the ruling Democratic Progressive party that favors the island's independence from China, apologized and said the use of the image of a Chinese QBZ-95 on trophies for top winners was an unintentional mistake. Those given the trophies would be given the option of choosing a different one. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring it under its control. In an address to the island last week, President William Lai Ching-te reminded residents that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a 'foreign hostile force' and said tougher measures were being taken to prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges. Lai warned also of the danger of influential figures and serving and retired members of the military selling secrets to China. Underscoring the apparent incompetence behind the incident, the Fengshan Marathon held near the major southern port of Kaohsiung wound its way through the Taiwanese Military Academy, the Army Infantry Training Command and the Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School, all affiliated with the Defense Ministry. The Fengshan Road Running Association apologized for the use of the Chinese rifle and said a weapon had been selected because of this year race's affiliation with the military, but said nothing as to why a weapon in current use with China's ground forces was chosen. The Defense Ministry was quoted by the official Central News Agency as saying it had provided facilities but had nothing to do with organizing the race or the choice of prizes. Military service, now lengthened to one year, is compulsory for all Taiwanese men, making them familiar with rifles and other weapons used by the army.
