On October 10, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen addressed the nation on the anniversary of the Republic's founding, emphasizing the need to strengthen national defense in response to China's military pressure and asserting that Taiwan will not accept subordination.
During her speech at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Tsai stated, "China continues to exert pressure through military and gray zone activities, attempting to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."
She added, "Taiwan's firm stance in the face of authoritarian expansion is related not only to our survival but also to the belief that military force cannot dominate rules and that powerful nations cannot deprive citizens of their right to determine their future." Tsai explained that Taiwan is committed to ongoing defense reforms and fostering its defense industry through advanced technology.
Tsai emphasized, "The purpose of increasing defense spending is not to provoke but to deter war," and noted, "Strengthening our self-defense capabilities is not to abandon dialogue but to ensure that discussions can occur on an equal and dignified basis."
In response, China criticized Tsai's remarks, accusing her of distorting facts and revealing her pursuit of Taiwan independence.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Zhang Jun, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated during a press briefing that Tsai's speech "ignores the facts, distorts the truth, and reveals her ulterior motives to mislead the public."
Zhang claimed, "This shows her true colors as a 'practical promoter of Taiwan independence,' insisting on divisive thinking regarding Taiwan independence and exaggerating the 'threat from the mainland.'"
He further criticized her for promoting a false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism," relying on military force and external powers to pursue independence, and inciting confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, thereby undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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