‘Stop threatening us’, Taiwan’s new president tells China

By Alagbe Shenayon On May 20, 2024

Following his inauguration, Taiwan’s newly sworn-in president, William Lai, has appealed to China to cease its threats against the island and acknowledge its democratic system.

Lai emphasized the importance of dialogue over confrontation in relations between Taiwan and Beijing.

Furthermore, he asserted that Taiwan would remain steadfast against any intimidation from China, which has persistently asserted its claim over the island.

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China responded by saying, “Taiwan independence is a dead end”.

“Regardless of the pretext or the banner under which it is pursued, the push for Taiwan independence is destined to fail,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the daily press briefing on Monday afternoon.

Beijing disapproves of Mr. Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), viewing them as pro-independence. Since his election win in January, China has increased military incursions around Taiwan’s waters and airspace.

These military activities have become routine in recent years, heightening fears of conflict. In his speech, Mr. Lai referred to this as the “greatest strategic challenge to global peace and stability.”

The 64-year-old president adhered to the approach of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, known for her cautious but firm stance towards Beijing.

Mr. Lai, a doctor-turned-politician, won a three-way presidential race in January, securing an unprecedented third term for his party. He had served as Ms. Tsai’s vice president since 2020 and was her premier before that. In his earlier political career, he was known for his more radical pro-independence stance, which angered Beijing. He was labeled a “troublemaker” ahead of the polls, with Chinese state media suggesting he should be prosecuted for secession.

The Chinese government has not yet issued a statement on Mr. Lai’s inauguration. However, the Chinese embassy in the UK held a press briefing over the weekend, urging the UK government not to endorse it. Earlier last week, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned that Taiwan’s new leader “must seriously” consider whether he wants peaceful development or confrontation.

Coinciding with Mr. Lai’s swearing-in, China’s Commerce Ministry announced sanctions against several US companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan.

On Monday, however, Mr. Lai adopted a much more conciliatory tone. He reiterated his commitment to maintaining the status quo—an ambiguous diplomatic situation that does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country despite its constitution and sovereign government. China demands adherence to this arrangement and accuses major Taiwan allies, such as the US, of undermining it by supporting the island.

Mr. Lai vowed to maintain peace and stability and expressed a desire to reopen exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, including welcoming Chinese tourist groups to Taiwan. However, he emphasized that the island’s residents must remain aware of the threat from China and that Taiwan must continue to strengthen its defenses.

This approach continues the policy of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who believed that bolstering defense and gaining support from key allies like the US and Japan was crucial to deterring China’s invasion plans. Her critics argue that this military investment risks provoking China, making Taiwan even more vulnerable.

Despite these criticisms, annual defense spending increased to about $20 billion (£16 billion) under Ms. Tsai, and Mr. Lai has pledged even more funds. Taiwan has acquired new battle tanks, upgraded and purchased new F-16 fighter jets, and built a fleet of new missile ships to patrol the 100-mile Taiwan Strait. Last September marked the completion of what Ms. Tsai considers the crowning achievement of her military program: Taiwan’s first indigenously developed submarine.

Taiwan’s own allies are watching closely too, to see if his rhetoric is likely to aggravate tensions further. Mr Lai’s caution was also aimed at his American audience. His vice-president Hsiao Bi-Khim, widely believed to be Ms Tsai’s protege, is yet another source of assurance for Washington. The 52-year-old was born in Japan and mostly grew up in the US, where she also served as Taiwan’s representative for three years.

Mr Lai also faces big challenges at home. Unemployment and cost of living cost the DPP the youth vote in January, and Taiwan’s economy is seen to be heavily dependent on its hugely successful semiconductor industry – it supplies more than half the world’s chips

And a divided parliament, where the DPP no longer has a majority, is likely to deny him a honeymoon period. The differences spilled into the spotlight over the weekend when lawmakers were caught brawling in parliament over proposed reforms. The bitter dispute and the protests that followed marred Mr Lai’s address.

But how he deals with Beijing will be the biggest question that will determine his presidency, especially as both sides have had no formal communication since 2016.

Lawyer Hsu Chih-ming who attended the inaugurations told BBC Chinese that Taiwan had fared quite well under Ms Tsai but added that there is a need to maintain “good communications” with China.

“Lai said he was a ‘practical worker for Taiwan independence’. I hope he wouldn’t emphasise this too much and worsen cross-strait relations,” he said. “Otherwise all of us wouldn’t be able to escape if a war broke out.”