Peace through strength, Taiwan president says on China battle anniversary

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited the strategic frontline island of Kinmen on August 23 to mark the 68th anniversary of a pivotal battle against Chinese forces. During his visit, Lai stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved through strength, asserting that Taiwan would not surrender even an inch of its territory.

Lai laid a wreath and paid respects at a memorial park, commemorating the 1958 clash that initiated the second Taiwan Strait crisis. This conflict was the last large-scale military engagement between Taiwanese and Chinese forces. Addressing veterans, Lai expressed gratitude for their defense against "Communist totalitarian aggression" and declared that the resolve to protect national sovereignty and cross-strait peace must remain unwavering.

“

Our resolve to unite in defending national sovereignty and safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait must never waver. Peace has never simply fallen from the sky. The 1958 battle proves that peace is secured through strength.

"Peace has never simply fallen from the sky," Lai stated, referencing the 1958 battle as proof that "peace is secured through strength." He urged the continuation of the "spirit of never yielding an inch" of Taiwan and its associated islands, while also advocating for increased military spending.

“

Peace is secured through strength.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has labeled Lai a "separatist." Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, asserting that only Taiwan's people can determine their future, though he has also proposed dialogue with China. The visit occurs amidst heightened tensions, including China's regular "law enforcement" patrols around Kinmen, which Taipei views as provocative.

Lai also noted that China's "ambitions for external expansion" have persisted for 68 years, causing "unease" across the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan's planned defense spending for 2027 is projected to exceed T$1 trillion (approximately S$40 billion), and Lai seeks strong parliamentary support for this budget.

“

for 68 years China had not stopped its “ambitions for external expansion for even a single day”, bringing “unease” across the Indo-Pacific.