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First Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Taiwan president offers peace with China but says island must strengthen defences
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has called for peace and dialogue with China, while strengthening the island's defences. Beijing, however, dismissed his remarks and rejected any prospects of peace talks. read more Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called for peace and dialogue with China while vowing to strengthen the island's defences. Beijing dismissed his remarks and ruled out peace talks. (Photo: Nikkei Asia) Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. China calls Lai a 'separatist' and has rebuffed his multiple offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. The government has warned that Beijing could mark the anniversary with military drills but speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Lai offered a message of peace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions,' he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defences as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Lai added. 'I also reiterate here - Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation.' China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's defence ministry last week said Lai was a 'Taiwan Strait crisis maker' who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. Lai also faces a challenge from possible U.S. tariffs, currently on pause, and said talks with Washington were continuing 'smoothly'. The government also plans to establish a sovereign wealth fund to boost the tech-focused economy, he added. 'The government will set up a sovereign fund to create a national investment platform, making full use of Taiwan's industrial strengths, led by the government, in collaboration with the strengths of private enterprises,' Lai said, without giving details. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After finishing his media event, Lai attended the opening ceremony for the ongoing Computex trade show, where Taiwan-born Jensen Huang, the CEO of AI darling Nvidia, is the star attraction. Lai visited the booths of Nvidia suppliers and partners, including Foxconn and Mediatek, chatting with senior executives there. Last month, China held war games code-named 'Strait Thunder-2025A' around Taiwan, the 'A' at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills just after Lai took office 'Joint Sword-2024A', and in October of that year staged 'Joint Sword-2024B'. In a daily report detailing Chinese military activities, Taiwan's defence ministry said in the past 24 hours it had detected six Chinese planes and 11 vessels near the island. (Except headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff)
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Taiwan wants peace and talks with China but must strengthen defences, president says
Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China as war has no winners, but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. China calls Lai a 'separatist' and has rebuffed his offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. A government spokesperson said last week Taiwan could not rule out the possibility that China could mark the anniversary with military drills. Speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Lai said Taiwan's people loved peace. 'I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams or illusions,' he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defences as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Lai said. 'I also reiterate, Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation.' China's Taiwan affairs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its defence ministry last week said Lai was a 'Taiwan Strait crisis maker' who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. Last month, China held war games code-named 'Strait Thunder-2025A' around Taiwan, the 'A' at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills soon after Lai took office 'Joint Sword-2024A', and in October of that year staged 'Joint Sword-2024B'.
Al Arabiya
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Taiwan wants peace and talks with China but must strengthen defenses, president says
Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China as war has no winners, but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defenses, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. China calls Lai a 'separatist' and has rebuffed his multiple offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. A government spokesperson said last week that Taiwan could not rule out the possibility that China could mark the anniversary with military drills. Speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Lai said Taiwan's people loved peace. 'I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions,' he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defenses, as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Lai added. 'I also reiterate here – Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation.' China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's defense ministry last week said Lai was a 'Taiwan Strait crisis maker' who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. Last month, China held war games code-named 'Strait Thunder-2025A' around Taiwan, the 'A' at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills just after Lai took office 'Joint Sword-2024A,' and in October of that year staged 'Joint Sword-2024B.'
Japan Today
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Taiwan wants peace and talks with China but must strengthen defences, president says
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech on the anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe in Taipei, Taiwan May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China as war has no winners, but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defenses, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday as he completed one year in office. China calls Lai a "separatist" and has rebuffed his multiple offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. A government spokesperson said last week that Taiwan could not rule out the possibility that China could mark the anniversary with military drills. Speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Lai said Taiwan's people loved peace. "I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions," he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defenses as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Lai added. "I also reiterate here - Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation." China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's defense ministry last week said Lai was a "Taiwan Strait crisis maker" who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. Last month, China held war games code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" around Taiwan, the "A" at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills just after Lai took office "Joint Sword-2024A", and in October of that year staged "Joint Sword-2024B". © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Taiwan wants peace and talks with China but must strengthen defences, president says
Taiwan wants peace and talks with China but must strengthen defences, president says TAIPEI - Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China as war has no winners, but the government must continue to strengthen the island's defences, President Lai Ching-te said on May 20 as he completed one year in office. China calls Mr Lai a "separatist" and has rebuffed his multiple offers for talks. Mr Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. A government spokesperson said last week that Taiwan could not rule out the possibility that China could mark the anniversary with military drills. Speaking to reporters at the presidential office in central Taipei, Mr Lai said Taiwan's people loved peace. "I, too, am committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions," he said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defences as preparing for war is the best way to avoid it, Mr Lai added. "I also reiterate here - Taiwan is happy to have exchanges and cooperation with China as long as there is reciprocal dignity. Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation." China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's defence ministry last week said Mr Lai was a "Taiwan Strait crisis maker" who had increased antagonism and confrontation and undermined peace and stability. China held war games code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" around Taiwan in April, the "A" at its end suggesting there could be more to come. China called its May 2024 drills just after Mr Lai took office "Joint Sword-2024A", and in October of that year staged "Joint Sword-2024B". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
