Taiwan President Lai Says Island Cherishes Peace but Will Not Accept Subordination

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on October 10 that the island cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom or accept subordination. Speaking outside the Presidential Office on National Day, he called on democracies in the Indo-Pacific to join forces to ensure the status quo of peace and stability is not changed.

Lai said there must be respect for the right of Taiwan’s people to exist and no tolerance for distorting the history of World War II. He welcomed dialogue between the United States and China to manage competition and reduce the risk of conflict, but added that peace cannot rely solely on wishes. Strengthening self-defense, he said, is intended to enable dialogue on the basis of parity and dignity, not to abandon talks or provoke.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has increased military pressure, including recent war games. Lai described the island’s resolve as a response to authoritarian expansion rather than a matter of survival alone. He compared Taiwan to salt: small, yet able to preserve freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law against erosion.

The address marked 30 years since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, which took place under missile threats in 1996. Lai recalled that voters determined their own future then and said the island has since undergone democratic transitions and changes of ruling parties. He pledged to improve well-being, safeguard regional stability and sustain economic competitiveness, pointing to the shift from traditional industries to advanced semiconductors.

A pending $14 billion U.S. arms package has not yet been approved by President Trump, following an $11 billion deal last year. Lai said Taiwan does not seek hegemony. He framed the island as a city upon a hill that must remain ironclad and whose people must remain united as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific.

The speech comes after a China-U.S. summit in Washington the previous month in which Chinese President Xi Jinping urged opposition to Taiwan independence. Lai’s remarks directly addressed the need for a correct understanding of history and collective action by regional democracies. Whether those democracies coordinate more closely on the status quo will shape the practical effect of the appeal.