President Tsai Calls Taiwan Trying To Live Together Peacefully With China

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. (Wikimedia Commons/men's)

JAKARTA - President Tsai Ing-wen said in his last national speech on Tuesday, Taiwan seeks to coexist peacefully with China through free and unrestricted interactions, but they will become a democratic country for future generations.

Speaking in front of the presidential office, President Tsai said the strength of international support for Taiwan had reached an "unprecedented altitude".

"Because this is the time for us to be able to face the world with confidence and determination, we can also be calm and confident in facing China, create conditions for peaceful coexistence and future development in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

However, President Tsai said it was his duty to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and a democratic and free way of life, seeking free, unlimited, untangled interactions between Taiwan and Chinese residents.

President Tsai added that the difference between Taiwan and China must be resolved peacefully, and maintaining the status quo is "important" to ensure peace.

Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, is increasingly under military and political pressure from Beijing, including China's two major series of war games near the island since August last year, raising fears of a conflict that will have a global impact.

In facing the threat of China, Taiwan is heartened by the support of other democratic countries, especially the United States and its allies.

"With confidence, we will show the world that the Taiwanese people are dignified, independent, warm, and kind. The Taiwanese people are happy to be the people of the world and will become democratic and free people for future generations," said President Tsai.

In response, China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities were the "largest threat" to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, for "looking for independence and provocation".

"No matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China. This will not change the general trend, China will definitely move towards reunification," ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference.

Beijing said Taiwanese governments should accept that China and Taiwan are part of "one China", but President Tsai refused to do so.

Taiwan celebrated 10 October as a national day, marking the uprising in 1911 that ended China's last imperial dynasty and turned to the Republic of China.

The republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949, after losing a civil war with communist leader Mao Zedong who founded the People's Republic of China.