In his most significant address since taking office, President William Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to self-governance, vowing to resist any attempts at annexation. Without directly naming China, Lai stated his intention to uphold Taiwan’s sovereignty while maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also expressed a willingness to collaborate with Beijing on global issues like climate change and regional security.

Speaking on Taiwan’s National Day, Lai declared, “The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinates to each other.” He emphasized that China has no right to claim representation over Taiwan and celebrated Taiwan’s flourishing democracy and freedom.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted swiftly, condemning Lai’s speech as exposing his “intransigent position” on Taiwan independence. Beijing reiterated that Taiwan is part of China and criticized Lai’s intent to escalate tensions for political gain. Mao Ning, a ministry spokeswoman, stressed that reunification was inevitable.

Political observers, like Lev Nachman from National Taiwan University, noted the softer tone of Lai’s speech compared to previous ones, though Beijing is still expected to respond with military exercises. Despite Lai’s efforts to avoid provocation, tensions between Taipei and Beijing remain high, as both sides continue to assert opposing stances on Taiwan’s status.