Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te has demanded Beijing stop threatening the island, while urging the world to see the protection of Taiwan’s democratic freedoms as essential to global peace.
Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te has told China to stop its campaign of military intimidation against the island, as he framed the protection of his country’s democratic freedoms as being at the front line of global peace and security.
“I also want to 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 in the greater region, and ensure the world is free from the fear of war,” Lai said. “The future of cross-strait relations will have a decisive impact on the world. This means that we who have inherited a democratic Taiwan are pilots for peace,” he said.
The Chinese government did not immediately respond to Lai’s address but an editorial in state controlled newspapersaid Lai would “pose a serious threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” if he pursued independence.
Domestically, he will have to contend with a divided parliament after the DPP was plunged into minority government. Lai himself will face the immediate challenge of uniting the country behind his presidency, having secured 40 per cent of the vote after most Taiwanese parked their vote with the two major opposition parties the Kuomintang, which favours closer ties with China, and newcomer party, the Taiwan People’s Party.
Nachman said even if Lai still harboured pro-independence yearnings, he would be restrained by public opposition, a fractured parliament and, perhaps most importantly, the desires of its key ally and security guarantor.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Young pigeon fanciers: meet the new kids on the flockPigeons are friendly, acrobatic and affordable, and these days they are winning the hearts of more and more youthful pigeoneers
Read more »
Six arrested after pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations meet in Melbourne's CBDSeveral people have been arrested after a clash between a pro-Palestinian rally and a pro-Israeli rally in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday.
Read more »
‘It was smart to marry the competition’: meet the ‘power couples’ who work togetherMeet four couples who are married to each other – and the job. Yes, it can get shouty, but knowing your partner so well brings unexpected benefits, both to the working relationship and to time at home
Read more »
Meet Australia's odds-defying young athletes inspired by Drake and Cathy FreemanLiving in the Northern Territory's Top End, Romone Lewin and Briseis Brittain have faced significant hurdles on their paths to becoming para athletes — and they’re setting their sights higher.
Read more »
‘We call it our farm’: meet the Australians swapping supermarket shopping for farm sharesEighty families pay the bills of a family farm in south-east Queensland in exchange for fresh produce as part of a community-supported agriculture model
Read more »
Budget 2024: Meet SunDrive, the Australian record-breaking solar cell disrupter aiming to scare ChinaThe brains behind SunDrive say Australia has the material, the best resources, and even national security reasons, for keeping solar panel expertise here.
Read more »