Taiwan’s President Calls for Peace Amid Tensions with China

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed the island’s commitment to peace and dialogue with China during a press conference on May 20, marking his one-year anniversary in office. However, he emphasized that Taiwan must continue to strengthen its defenses in the face of growing tensions.

Lai, labeled a “separatist” by China, rejected its sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a self-governed democracy. He stated that the future of Taiwan rests solely with its people. Despite multiple offers for talks, China has not engaged, maintaining a hardline stance against Lai’s administration.

In his remarks, Lai expressed, “I am also committed to peace. Because peace is priceless and war has no winners. But when it comes to seeking peace, we cannot have dreams nor illusions.” He added that preparing for war is the best way to prevent it.

Lai is optimistic about exchanges and cooperation with China, as long as there is mutual respect. He stated, “Using exchanges to replace hemming in, dialogue to replace confrontation.” However, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has not responded to requests for comment regarding Lai’s statements.

The Chinese defense ministry recently accused Lai of increasing tensions and undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, labeling him a “crisis maker.” On another front, Lai also mentioned ongoing negotiations with the United States regarding potential tariffs, which are currently on hold.

Moreover, Lai announced plans to create a sovereign wealth fund intended to stimulate Taiwan’s tech-driven economy. He described the fund as a national investment platform that would maximize the island’s industrial strengths in collaboration with private enterprises, although specific details were not disclosed.

Following the press conference, Lai attended the opening ceremony of the Computex trade show, where he interacted with industry leaders like Nvidia‘s CEO, Jensen Huang. The event highlights Taiwan’s critical role in the global tech industry.

Recently, China conducted war games near Taiwan under the code name “Strait Thunder-2025A,” indicating potential future military actions. Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting six Chinese aircraft and 11 naval vessels nearby.