President William Lai said achieving cross-strait peace requires more than accepting Beijing’s “one China” principle or the “1992 consensus.” He made the remarks on Monday during the Overseas Community Affairs Council Conference in Taipei, stressing Taiwan’s right to preserve sovereignty and security.
The statement followed the election of Cheng Li-wun as the new chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT). Cheng, who supports closer ties with Beijing, received a congratulatory message from Chinese President Xi Jinping. In her response, Cheng reaffirmed her support for the “1992 consensus,” a position Lai firmly opposed during his speech.
Lai explained that cross-strait peace cannot rely on illusions or concessions. He said peace must come through national strength, unity, and defense, not through conditions set by China.
At the conference, Lai also praised overseas Taiwanese communities for strengthening Taiwan’s global presence. More than 100 representatives from 34 countries attended the event, which focused on national defense resilience and civic engagement.
The president outlined his administration’s defense goals. He plans to raise defense spending from 2.5 percent to 3.32 percent of GDP this year and to 5 percent by 2030. These investments will focus not only on acquiring weapons but also on building local defense capabilities.
Lai emphasized that Taiwan’s semiconductor and technology industries are essential for developing a self-sufficient defense system. They can also help integrate Taiwan into the global defense supply chain.
He added that the nation’s security depends on innovation and collaboration between the government and private sector.
Lai also pointed to Taiwan’s strong economic momentum. He noted that GDP growth increased from 2.8 percent under Ma Ying-jeou to 3.2 percent under Tsai Ing-wen. He added that the stock market surged from 8,000 points to over 23,000 points during the same period.
Economic growth reached 8 percent in the second quarter this year. The Asian Development Bank projects full-year growth at 5.31 percent, exceeding South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Lai credited this success to the combined efforts of domestic and overseas enterprises.
He concluded that real cross-strait peace can only come from a position of strength, not compromise. Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering its defense, economy, and diplomacy to ensure long-term stability and sovereignty.
