On Taiwan’s National Day president Tsai Ing-wen promised to strengthen Taiwan’s defence and alliances with regions partners as China tensions heighten.
During her speech, she called for ‘meaningful dialogue’ with China however she added that “this is not something Taiwan can shoulder alone; it is the joint responsibility of both sides.”
Tsai Ing-wen further said Taiwan would continue to modernize its defence capabilities and enhance its capacity for asymmetric warfare, designed to make any Chinese attack difficult and costly. While also reaffirming the island's commitment to democracy and human rights.
China claims the island as its own territory and began exerting pressure on the island after Tsai was elected in 2016. China has intensified air force activity near the island's shores sometimes crossing the unofficial buffer zone located in the Taiwan Strait’s midline. Citing the United States growing support for the island as the cause.
In a speech to mark National Day, Tsai noted the sovereignty disputes in the Indo-Pacific, including the Beijing, imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong and said:
“we want to be an advocate for the forces of good, and share our progressive and good faith values with the whole world.”
Notably, Taiwan has offered itself as a sanctuary to Hong Kong activists.
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