TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in his inauguration speech on Monday (May 20) urged China to stop its threats against Taiwan and respect the will of the Taiwanese, while China interpreted Lai’s words as promoting independence.
"I want to urge China to stop intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily, and to take on the global responsibility with Taiwan to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, to ensure the world is without fear of war,” Lai said, addressing thousands of citizens and over 500 foreign dignitaries at Taiwan’s presidential inauguration, per CNA.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Lai made an overture to Beijing on Monday when he expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue and other exchanges. For example, Lai said a starting point could be resuming bilateral tourism and allowing Chinese students to study in Taiwan.
MAC called on China to be receptive to Lai’s "goodwill gesture” to promote mutual peace and prosperity.
However, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said Lai had sent “dangerous signals” to Beijing. Chen accused Lai of attempting to "incite division" and stir up "separatist fallacies,” and blamed Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for cross-strait tensions.
Lai did not mention independence in his speech and reaffirmed his intent to uphold the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. However, he warned the Taiwanese not to hold “illusions” toward China.
"Before China gives up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this: Even if we accept all of China's claims and give up our sovereignty, China's ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear,” the new president said.
Lai added the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.
On Tuesday (May 21), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went a step further by calling Taiwan’s new president "disgraceful.” He also admonished the U.S., South Korea, and Japan for sending delegations to Taiwan to attend Lai’s inauguration.