Taiwan's National Day: Lai set to defend military build-up as safeguarding peace
A speech by President Lai Ching-te in Taipei was scheduled for the 115th founding anniversary of the Republic of China. Beforehand, Taiwan again reported Chinese warplanes and warships near the island.
Archive image · Photo: 總統府 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Taiwan marked the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China on Saturday. As is tradition, President Lai Ching-te was scheduled to speak outside the Presidential Office in Taipei. A senior government official had said in advance, according to Reuters, that Lai would stress that higher defence spending is not a “provocation”. Rather, it reflects the wish to preserve peace and freedom. Taiwan would respond to the dialogue between the US and China “with confidence and resolve”.
According to the CNA news agency, the speech was also to focus on the economy: all citizens should benefit from the current record growth. Lai also intended to present Taiwan as a guardian of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific and as a democratic partner of the international community, the Presidential Office said.
Shortly before the holiday, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another Chinese “joint combat readiness patrol” involving 19 aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, as well as warships. Beijing regards the island as part of its territory and rejects any claim of sovereignty by Taipei. National Day commemorates the 1911 uprising that brought down China's last imperial dynasty.