Taiwanese President Says No External Power Can Change Taiwan's Future

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (Twitter/@ChingteLai CUYYY)

JAKARTA - Taiwan respects its freedom and democracy and no "external force" can change its future, President Lai Ching-te said while visiting sensitive frontline islands next to China, to commemorate 75 years of an important victory over communist forces on Friday.

President Lai told veterans and family members, Guningtou Battle in October 1949, when republican forces defeated Kinmen's invasion attempts by the People's Liberation Army, "representing our determination to protect our country".

"Guningtou's battle made us realize that democracy and freedom are not something that can be underestimated," President Lai said.

"We value a democratic and free way of life, and we cannot, and will not, allow any external force to change the futures of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, right?" President Lai added, referring to all groups of government-controlled islands, though without directly mentioning China.

Taiwan has controlled Kinmen and Matsu Islands in the north since the Chinese government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a civil war with communist Mao Zedong.

Kinmen's fighting was a rare victory for Xian Kai-shek forces in the last days of China's civil war.

In December that year, the republican government fled to Taiwan and in the following years it would lose a series of islands and other small islands to communist forces. The Republic of China remains the official name of Taiwan.

No peace agreement or ceasefire has ever been signed between Taiwan and China and no government has officially recognized each other.

Beijing hates President Lai as "separatist" and views democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory. That was rejected by President Lai, saying only the Taiwanese could decide their future.

China staged a day-long war drill around Taiwan earlier this month which was said to be a warning against " separatist actions".

President Lai reaffirmed his determination to maintain peace and stability, as well as defend Taiwan's sovereignty, as well as his willingness to speak with Beijing.

"Our persistence in maintaining a democratic and free lifestyle for future generations has not changed and will remain unchanged," he added.

Late Thursday, the Taiwanese military held a live-night shooting exercise in the Penghu Islands, home to major air force and naval bases and those in the Taiwan Strait despite being closer to Taiwan than China, training to fend off attacks from the sea.

It is known, this is President Lai's second trip to Kinmen since he took office in May.

Kinmen sendiri kini menjadi tujuan wisata populer sebagian karena sejarah War Coldnya.