By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI (Reuters) -China has no proper to signify Taiwan, however the island is keen to work with Beijing to fight world challenges reminiscent of local weather change, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te mentioned on Thursday, placing each a agency and a conciliatory tone.
Lai, who took workplace in Could after being elected in January, is detested by China, which calls him a “separatist”. Beijing claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory, a view Lai and his authorities reject.
Giving a keynote nationwide handle outdoors the presidential workplace in Taipei, Lai reiterated that the Republic of China – the island’s formal title – and the Folks’s Republic of China are “not subordinate to each other”.
“On this land, democracy and freedom are growing and thriving. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan,” he mentioned.
Taiwan’s willpower to defend its sovereignty, keep peace within the Taiwan Strait and search equal and dignified talks with China all stay unchanged, Lai added.
“I will also uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty,” Lai mentioned.
However he additionally held out a proposal of cooperation with China.
“We are willing to work with China on addressing climate change, combating infectious diseases, and maintaining regional security to pursue peace and mutual prosperity for the well-being of the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
Lai added that he hoped China might reside as much as the worldwide neighborhood’s expectations, and apply its affect and work with different international locations towards ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflicts within the Center East.
“And we hope that it will take up its international responsibilities and, along with Taiwan, contribute to the peace, security, and prosperity of the region and the globe,” he mentioned.
There was no speedy response from Beijing to his remarks.
China this week accused him of elevating tensions, and on Wednesday Taiwan’s defence ministry mentioned China had staged one other “joint combat readiness patrol” across the island, a part of a sample of what Taipei calls common Chinese language navy harassment.
Taiwanese and Western officers have warned China might stage extra navy drills in response to his speech.
China has no justification for utilizing Lai’s speech as a pretext for navy stress, the US, Taiwan’s most essential worldwide backer regardless of the absence of diplomatic ties, mentioned on Wednesday.
Lai has repeatedly supplied talks with Beijing however has been rebuffed. He says solely Taiwan’s individuals can determine their future.
Lai additionally praised Taiwan’s range, highlighting Nymphia Wind, the primary East Asian to take the crown in RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Olympic gold medallist Lin Yu-ting, certainly one of two boxers on the centre of a gender dispute at this yr’s Paris Olympics.
“The people of Taiwan are diverse, and they are fearless. Our own Nymphia Wind is a queen on the world stage. The people of Taiwan are truly courageous. Lin Yu-ting, a daughter of Taiwan, is a queen of the boxing world,” he mentioned.
