China has insisted that an independent Taiwan is “doomed to fail” as the island’s new president marked his inauguration by calling for Beijing to end its campaign of intimidation.
In a speech after his swearing-in ceremony in Taipei, William Lai called for dialogue and co-operation across the Taiwan Strait, and carefully avoided making an explicit reference to Taiwanese independence.
However, he made it clear that he would make no compromise with China’s insistence that the self-ruling island is its territory and that it must be reunified, by force if necessary.
Lai said in his televised speech that he hoped to “ensure the world is free from the fear of war”
“I … call on China to cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the greater region,