China has slammed Taiwan's new President, Lai Ching-te, after his declaration that Taiwan was a sovereign entity, a statement that Beijing said was dangerous and a sign of Taiwan wanting independence. Lai won January's presidential election and replaces the DPP predecessor Tsai Ing-wen. He took office in Taipei on Monday.
China considers Taiwan a wayward province that needs eventually to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. His DPP does not advocate for Taiwan's independence from China but claims that Taiwan already is a sovereign state.
In an assertive inauguration speech, Lai called on Beijing to stop threatening Taiwan, vowed that Taiwan would maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and reiterated that it wants peaceful coexistence with the mainland. He urged talks rather than conflicts and that Taiwan would not be intimidated by China's tactics. The South China Morning Post reported his speech.
Pointing out Taiwan's democratic achievements, Lai said, "As the future of both sides of the Taiwan Strait will have a decisive impact on the development of the world, we -- carrying on Taiwan's democratisation -- are the helmsmen of peace." He said his administration would stick to four major commitments, ensure national sovereignty, democracy, and freedom, but also balance this approach.
Lai said the sovereignty of Taiwan under the ROC constitution is crystal clear. ROC and the People's Republic of China (PRC) are not subordinate to each other. He urged national unity in the protection of sovereignty, indirectly addressing pro-Beijing opposition parties.
China's President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that Taiwan will eventually be unified with China. Xi has sharply increased the Chinese military deployment along the Taiwan Strait, with aircraft carriers, naval vessels, jet fighters, and missiles aimed at Taiwan. Some Taiwanese politicians believe that China might even try to invade by 2027, while the US has promised military intervention if that happens. President Joe Biden has said that US troops would intervene to defend Taiwan if China invaded, while still maintaining the 'One China' policy.
Predictably, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, dismissed Lai's rhetoric of independence, saying, "Taiwan independence is a dead end." He said any attempts at Taiwan independence would fail and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and eventual reunification is inevitable.
Wang claimed that most countries and international organizations share China's stance. China's 'One China' policy is a precept that requires countries to cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan and instead recognize Beijing. Only 12 UN member states recognize Taiwan at present, although it enjoys diplomatic support from the US and Japan, despite the formal adherence of the two powers to the 'One China' policy.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Lai had advocated separatism and incited confrontation. Chen said that China was committed to national reunification and would resolutely fight all separatist activities and external interference.
Lai, a former doctor, has a history of strong anti-China, pro-independence views, which have often raised the ire of Beijing. Leading up to the election, the Chinese state media described him as a "troublemaker" and said he should be prosecuted for secession.
The predecessor of Lai, Tsai Ing-wen, who faced strong pressure from China, has said Taiwan does not need to declare independence, adding that it already operates as an independent, sovereign state. She mentioned Taiwan's self-government, legal system, and military as reasoning for why Taiwan should be recognized by the world.
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