Taipei”•Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of “seriously challenging” peace and stability Wednesday, describing the island she leads as being on the front line of tensions in the Pacific.
It comes as Beijing pursues a multi-pronged attack on any claims to sovereignty by self-ruled democratic Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary.
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have deteriorated since Tsai took office two years ago, as she refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”.
“As Taiwan is on the front line of the Western Pacific, we are naturally subject to tremendous pressure,” Tsai said in a televised speech to mark Taiwan’s National Day.
“China’s unilateral diplomatic offensive and military coercion have not only harmed cross-strait relations. They have also seriously challenged the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” she added.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign country and has an independent political system, judiciary and currency, but has never formally declared a split, despite being ruled separately since 1949.
China has recently upped military drills around the island and has made a concerted effort to poach Taiwan’s dwindling number of official allies”•only 17 countries still diplomatically recognize the island after five jumped ship since Tsai took power.
Beijing has also successfully put pressure on international businesses to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites and ensured Taiwan is shut out of global forums.
Tsai called on the authorities in Beijing to “play a positive role in the region and the world, instead of being a source of conflict”.
She pledged not to escalate tensions but also said Taiwan would seek to fortify its national security and diplomatic links, establishing its “irreplaceable strategic importance”.
“I will not be provoked into confrontation or conflicts that endanger cross-strait relations, nor will I deviate from the will of the people, and sacrifice Taiwan’s sovereignty,” Tsai said.
“An effective response strategy must be rooted in national strength,” she added.
Worsening ties with Beijing and unpopular domestic reforms policies are putting Tsai’s government under pressure ahead of major local elections next month.
Tsai warned in her speech that anyone interfering in the election process would “suffer serious consequences”.
She has accused Beijing of spreading “fake information” to affect public trust in the government in the run-up to the elections.