Latest news with #JointSword-2024B
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.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Taiwan president rallies the troops ahead of possible Chinese drills
KAOHSIUNG: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te offered his support and encouragement to the armed forces on Friday ahead of what the government has warned could be a new round of Chinese military exercises near the island from as early as next week. Taiwan cannot rule out that China will hold more military drills to 'stir up trouble' around Tuesday's one-year anniversary of Lai taking office, a senior government spokesperson said on Thursday in Taipei. China calls Lai a 'separatist' and has rebuffed his multiple offers for talks. Lai rejects China's sovereignty claims over the democratic and entirely separately governed island, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Lai visited army engineers and anti-submarine helicopter crews at bases in the southern city of Kaohsiung to thank them for their efforts before the traditional Dragon Boat festival at the end of the month. Both the army engineers and the navy's anti-submarine aviation command are the 'cornerstones of the nation's armed forces' military strength, and also indispensable to the overall national defence strategy', he told a group of helicopter crew at a lunch at Kaohsiung's Zuoying navy base. 'It is only because of your hard work and dedication that the military continues to thrive and the nation's people can live and work in peace and happiness,' he added. 'Let's work together to protect national security.' Lai, who made no direct mention of China or potential for more drills, was accompanied by Defence Minister Wellington Koo and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, two of his most senior defence officials. China's Defence Ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office said this week that 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 'Joint Sword - 2024A', held shortly after Lai took office, and in October of that year staged 'Joint Sword - 2024B'.
