Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed the island’s sovereignty following criticism from China over President Lai Ching-te’s National Day address. In response to Beijing’s accusations of escalating cross-strait tensions and threatening regional peace, the ministry asserted that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, emphasizing that Taiwan’s future should be determined by its 23 million citizens.
The ministry rejected China’s interference in Taiwan’s political affairs, urging Beijing to respect the political differences between the two sides, including Taiwan’s democratic system. It called for China to cease actions that could heighten tensions or attempts to alter the status quo through force.
In its statement, Taiwan underscored its commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. It also pledged to bolster cooperation with democratic partners globally to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and support its long-term development.