Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up freedom, president says

TAIPEI — Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom, and there must be respect for the right of Taiwan’s people to exist, President Lai Ching-te ⁠said on Saturday in a National Day speech, adding that boosting defenses is not a provocation.

Democratically governed Taiwan has faced increased military and political pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory over the strong objections of the government in Taipei.

Facing China’s far larger military, which is adding advanced new weapons such as stealth-fighter jets, aircraft carriers and a huge array of missiles, Taiwan is ramping up defense spending and modernising its armed forces.

Peace cannot ⁠rely solely on “wishes”, Lai said outside the Presidential Office. “Taiwan cherishes peace, but ​we ⁠will not give up our freedom. We are open to exchanges, but will not accept subordination.”

Taiwan’s resolve is not only a matter of its survival in the face of “authoritarian expansion”, he added. “It is about whether the international community still believes ⁠that force cannot override rules, and that the powerful cannot strip a people of their right to determine their own future.”

China’s ⁠Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a ‌request for…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business