Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's Presidential Candidate, Pledges Peace through Strength Amid Beijing's Pressure
In the run-up to Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary elections, Vice President Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate, has taken a firm stance on maintaining the status quo while pursuing peace through strength if elected. Lai expressed his openness to engaging with Beijing, emphasizing the importance of equality and dignity as preconditions for dialogue.
However, tensions remain high as Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory, framing the upcoming elections as a choice between peace and war across the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese government has labeled Lai as a separatist and issued warnings against any attempts to push for Taiwan's formal independence. Despite these challenges, Lai remains committed to engagement with China, believing that dialogue could reduce cross-strait risks and benefit both sides and the global community.
In a press conference alongside his vice presidential running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, Lai asserted that genuine peace must not compromise sovereignty. He pointed to Hong Kong as an example, cautioning that peace without sovereignty is akin to "fake peace." The DPP and the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's largest opposition party, have both committed to strengthening the island's defenses, emphasizing the importance of the 23 million people of Taiwan in determining their future.
Lai's pledge to continue the policy direction of incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen aligns with a commitment to building up Taiwan's defense deterrence in the face of heightened geopolitical tensions. Since the 2020 elections, China's People's Liberation Army has intensified military exercises around Taiwan, prompting Lai to stress that the pursuit of peace relies on strength, not just the goodwill of potential aggressors.
Economic strength is also a focal point for the DPP. Hsiao Bi-khim, a former de facto ambassador to the United States, emphasized the need for Taiwan, home to the world's largest contract chipmaker TSMC, to maintain competitiveness and a key position in global supply chains. This, she argued, is essential for Taiwan's economic growth and integration with the world.
While top Chinese leaders have refrained from public comments on the elections, Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted in a New Year's address that China's "reunification" with Taiwan is inevitable. Lai, in response, sees the upcoming elections as a testament to Taiwan's commitment to democracy. However, he also raised concerns about China's alleged interference, describing it as the most serious yet, encompassing military and economic pressure and the spread of fake news.
Taiwan has accused China of sending balloons over the Taiwan Strait as part of psychological warfare, with some flying over Taiwan itself. The Defense Ministry, while not considering shooting down the balloons, described them as a form of harassment. Taiwan plans to document and publish its analysis of China's alleged interference after the elections, marking a critical moment in the ongoing struggle between the two entities.
