President Lai Commemorates Kinmen Battle, Vows Territorial Defense; KMT Questions His Stance on Disputed Islands

President Lai Ching-te marked the 68th anniversary of the Kinmen Battle of August 23 by honoring the historical event as a testament to national unity and collective defense. Speaking amidst rain at the Taiwu Mountain Cemetery in Kinmen, Lai highlighted the battle as a result of civilians and the military uniting across ethnic and regional lines to protect the nation.

Looking 68 years forward, Lai urged citizens to support the armed forces and national defense. He pledged that the government would continue to uphold the spirit of "not yielding an inch of land in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu," reinforcing the commitment to continuously strengthen and invest in defense capabilities to safeguard the nation and its democracy.

However, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) sharply criticized Lai's remarks. KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Chen Hsin-hsin questioned Lai's resolve, asking why the president dared not speak about sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and had not visited Itu Aba Island. Chen accused Lai of only daring to confront mainland China while remaining silent towards neighboring countries, calling it a severe loss of national dignity.

Chen further contended that Lai, despite advocating for unity, was actually creating internal enemies and dividing Taiwanese society. He criticized Lai's approach to cross-strait relations as escalating tensions with a "new two-state theory," thereby increasing the risk of conflict. The KMT believes that commemorating the Battle of August 23 should align with the position of the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution. They urged Lai to cease undermining the ROC and promoting the "new two-state theory," instead returning to the constitutional framework and the 1992 Consensus to resume cross-strait dialogue and reduce war risks.

Chen also sarcastically addressed Lai's "not yielding an inch" pledge, contrasting it with the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea and Japan-Philippines negotiations over waters east of Taiwan. He questioned Lai's stance on sovereignty in these instances and why he hesitated to visit Itu Aba Island. The KMT chairman reiterated that the true lesson of the Battle of August 23 is to defend the ROC and prevent war. He called for less political rhetoric and more practical actions for cross-strait peace from Lai, urging him to reduce confrontation and defuse potential conflict for the sake of Taiwan's people.