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Taiwan Won't Surrender Freedom, President Lai Declares
M
Moneycontrol•10-10-2026, 15:44
Taiwan Won't Surrender Freedom, President Lai Declares
- •President Lai Ching-te stated in a National Day speech that Taiwan cherishes peace but will never give up its freedom.
- •Beijing slammed the speech for distorting the truth and revealing ulterior motives, accusing Lai of clinging to separatist thinking.
- •Lai emphasized that boosting Taiwan's defense spending and modernizing its armed forces is meant to deter war, not provoke it.
- •The United States welcomed Lai's commitment to peace, stating that a routine speech is no justification for coercive actions from China.
Key Questions Answered
President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan's increased investment in national defense aims to deter war rather than provoke it, emphasizing that peace cannot rely solely on wishes.
Beijing quickly denounced the speech, claiming it distorts the truth, misleads the public, and reveals ulterior motives while stubbornly clinging to Taiwan independence separatist thinking.
Following a late December arms deal worth $11 billion, US President Donald Trump has yet to approve a second package valued at $14 billion.
