Taiwan president Lai deplores Beijing military intimidation, calls for united defence

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS Taiwan President William Lai and the party chairman on Monday said at the party’s national congress that the Democratic Progressive Party must stand united with the public in their mass recall movement to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy.

The theme under “Better democracy, better Taiwan,” was held Lai identified the greatest challenge in domestic politics as the opposition-controlled legislature, which, according to the Taipei Times.

The national congress has bypassed proper procedures, passed bills contradicting the Constitution, and undermined government operations by drastically cutting central government budgets.

The Taipei Times quoted Lai highlighted Beijing’s use of influence warfare and military intimidation aimed at annexing Taiwan as part of its broader “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” policy and expanding hegemony in the western Pacific.

Lai warned that this threat would persist regardless of changes in Taiwan’s government leadership.

He emphasized the vital role of civil society, the Taipei Times reported.

Lai credited Taiwan’s vibrant democracy to the enduring strength of its citizens, recalled movements like the Wild Lily protests in 1990 and the Sunflower movement in 2014, where Taiwanese rallied against policies perceived as pro-China and harmful to Taiwan’s sovereignty. Media noted that Lai said the DPP has aligned with these civic efforts to defend democracy and national sovereignty. He criticized opposition parties for blocking government proposals on national defense and security budgets despite increasing global vigilance against China’s hegemonic ambitions. According to the media reports, Lai said concerned citizens responded through the “Bluebird movement” and mass recall efforts targeting opposition lawmakers, and he urged the DPP to fully support these initiatives to safeguard the nation. Lai stressed that national self-defense and economic development are crucial pillars for Taiwan’s future.

He called for a comprehensive national defense strategy to counter China’s infiltration tactics, exploited Taiwan’s diversity.

He enhanced defense autonomy through arms procurement and private military R&D was highlighted as vital amid rising Chinese military pressure.On the economic front, media reported Lai advocated the leveraging of Taiwan’s advanced technology and innovation to improve the investment environment and attract foreign capital.

He underscored equitable economic benefits to achieve balanced regional growth and intergenerational justice.

The DPP chairman concluded that Taiwan’s democratic resilience depends on unity between the government and citizens to confront both domestic challenges and external threats, laying the foundation for a stronger, more prosperous Taiwan, as reported in the media.