Taipei, June 19 (EFE).- The president of Taiwan, William Lai (Lai Ching-te), insisted this Wednesday on the need to strengthen the island’s military capabilities to maintain peace with China, since war can only avoided by “preparing” for it.
“Although Taiwanese people have always loved peace and been kind to others, peace must depend on strength and transparency, that is, avoiding war and achieving peace by preparing for war. Empty words are not true peace,” said the president in a press conference from the Presidential Palace in Taipei.
During his appearance before the media, Lai reiterated his “determination” to defend Taiwan in the face of constant threats from China, whose rulers consider the “annexation” of the island as a “national policy.”
“In addition to force, in recent years (China) has also used non-traditional coercive measures to subdue Taiwan, but we will not surrender, we will defend our national sovereignty and safeguard our democratic and constitutional way of life,” said Lai, branded as “secessionist” by the Chinese authorities.
Lai’s remarks came just hours after the US State Department approved the possible sale of a combat drone and loitering missile system to Taiwan for an estimated value of $360.2 million (335 million of euros), which marked the fifteenth sale of weapons to the island by the Administration of US President Joe Biden.
Specifically, the Taipei Representative Office in Washington requested the purchase of 291 Altius 600M-V drones and 720 Switchblade 300 loitering missiles, designed to improve Taiwan’s asymmetric combat forces.
“In the future we will continue to increase Taiwan’s defense capabilities,” said the island president, who pledged to increase both the acquisition of war material from abroad and the development of the Taiwanese defense industry.
Before the press conference, and accompanied by his vice president, Hsiao Bi-khim, and by the secretary general of the National Security Council, Joseph Wu, Lai announced the creation of three presidential committees “to formulate national development strategies and initiate a dialogue with civil society.
These committees, which will address issues related to climate change, healthy lifestyle and social “resilience”, will meet quarterly and will include representatives from government, academia and the private sector, who will collaborate in the development of policies that allow respond to “global problems” more effectively.
“Anything that happens in Taiwan has the potential to affect the world. Therefore, Taiwan issues have become matters of international concern (…). Every time Taiwan takes a step forward, the world takes a step forward. Taiwan has capabilities, technologies and experiences to share with the world,” Lai said.
