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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

Taiwanese protesters demand defense autonomy, reject 'surrender peace'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Over 10,000 people marched in Taipei demanding "true peace" and "national defense autonomy," protesting a significant cut to the defense budget by the opposition.
  • Civic groups criticized the opposition's actions for weakening Taiwan's indigenous defense capabilities, including drones and AI technology, and urged cross-party cooperation for national security.
  • Protesters rejected "surrender peace" and emphasized the need for self-reliant defense, drawing parallels between China's tactics towards Taiwan and Tibet.

More than 10,000 people took to the streets of Taipei on May 23rd, rallying for "true peace" and "national defense autonomy." The demonstration, organized by civic groups including the Economic Democracy Union and Taiwan Advancement Front, protested a substantial reduction in the defense budget by the opposition parties. Protesters chanted slogans like "Support arms purchases, save national defense," and "No to surrender peace."

Taiwan rejects 'surrender peace' and questions KMT Chairwoman Jaw Shaw-kong for making Taiwan a pawn.

· Lai Chung-chiangCriticizing the opposition's stance on national security and peace.

Lai Chung-chiang, convenor of the Economic Democracy Union think tank, strongly criticized the opposition's move to cut NT$470 billion from the Executive Yuan's NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget. He accused the Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Jaw Shaw-kong of making Taiwan a "pawn." Lai emphasized that Taiwan seeks an "active peace" that preserves dignity and freedom, not a "surrender peace." He drew parallels between China's current approach to Taiwan and the historical signing of a "fake peace agreement" with Tibet.

We absolutely will not give up.

· Lai Chung-chiangEmphasizing Taiwan's commitment to active peace and sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party Chairwoman Wu Hsin-ying highlighted that Taiwan's current peace is maintained by a strong defense. She argued that advocating for peace by disarming or abandoning sovereignty is not true peace but "compromise," leading Taiwan toward an uncertain future. Wu criticized the opposition for repeatedly obstructing and reducing the defense budget, which has weakened crucial indigenous capabilities in areas like drones, AI, and sensing systems.

This is not peace, this is compromise, and it will only lead Taiwan step by step towards a future without a tomorrow.

· Wu Hsin-yingArguing against appeasement and for a strong defense.

Both Lai and Wu urged lawmakers to prioritize national security over partisan interests. Lai called for the promotion of a second special defense ordinance that includes items like drones, unmanned vessels, missile systems, and AI defense capabilities, promising continued oversight. Wu appealed to the KMT and the Taiwan People's Party to abandon their current stance and pass the second defense budget proposal, emphasizing, "Save our country, ourselves."

Save our country, ourselves.

· Wu Hsin-yingUrging lawmakers and citizens to prioritize Taiwan's security.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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