Taiwan’s New President Sworn In, Calling on China to Stop Intimidation

TAIPEI—Taiwan’s new president has been sworn into office, calling on China to stop its military and political intimidations in a speech unlikely to deter the communist regime’s ambition to seize control of the self-ruling island.

In his 30-minute inaugural speech on May 20, Lai Ching-te, from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said that the Republic of China (ROC), which is Taiwan’s official name, is a “sovereign and independent country.” He added that the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which is China’s official name, and the ROC “are not subordinate to each other.”

“I also want to call on China to cease their political and military intimidations against Taiwan, and share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as the greater region, and to ensure the world is free from the fear of war,” Mr. Lai said.

Mr. Lai said his administration aims to “further entrench Taiwan’s democracy” and “maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific.”

“I have always believed that if the leader of a country puts people’s welfare above all, then peace in the Taiwan Strait, mutual benefits, and prosperous coexistence would be common goals,” he added. “I hope that China will face the reality of the Republic of China’s existence.”

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The DPP’s win is considered a setback for the CCP, which has traditionally favored KMT political candidates due to their friendly view of the communist neighbor. In contrast, the Chinese regime has labeled Mr. Lai as a “troublemaker” and “separatist.”

The CCP often slaps the “separatist” label on any Taiwanese who defends the island’s sovereignty and rejects the communist regime’s territorial claim over the island. China’s communist regime is preparing its military to seize Taiwan, even though the island is a de facto independent nation with its own military, constitution, and currency.

Mr. Lai reminded Taiwanese people that they shouldn’t harbor any delusions about China.

“So long as China refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, all of us in Taiwan ought to understand that even if we accept the entirety of China’s position and give up our sovereignty, China’s ambition to annex Taiwan will not simply disappear,” he said.

Strengthening Democratic Resilience

As for international affairs, Mr. Lai said he will work with “other democratic nations to form a democratic community,” working together on issues such as combatting disinformation and strengthening democratic resilience.

China’s efforts to influence Taiwan’s elections have been well-documented, with tactics including promoting disinformation via social media platforms and using financial incentives to sway Taiwanese voters.

Before his speech, Mr. Lai accepted congratulations from about 200 foreign politicians and delegates at Taiwan’s Presidential Office on Monday. The visiting dignitaries included those from the nations that currently maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, as well as those from Japan, Australia, Canada, the United States, and several European nations.

Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former top White House economic aide Brian Deese were among a U.S. bipartisan delegation that met with Mr. Lai on Monday. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also made the trip to Taiwan to congratulate Mr. Lai.

“We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwan’s political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Mr. Blinken stated.

‘Trusted Industry Sectors’

Mr. Lai also spoke about the importance of Taiwan’s tech industries to the world.

“Taiwan has already mastered advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and we stand at the center of the AI revolution,” he said. “We are a key player in supply chains for global democracies.”

Taiwan produces about 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, which are tiny chips that power everything from computers, smartphones, to missile systems. As a result, China’s ambition to seize Taiwan is also driven in part by the goal of taking control of the island’s semiconductor sector.

Under his administration, Mr. Lai said he aims to develop “five trusted industry sectors”—semiconductors, AI, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications.

Before Monday’s inauguration, China was already taking steps to put pressure on Mr. Lai.

Earlier this month, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau reported there was an increase in the number of daily cyberattacks originating from the Chinese side in recent months, according to the island’s government-run Central News Agency. There were 2.5 million daily cyberattacks in recent months, up from 1 million in January, according to the outlet, and the attacks mainly targeted Taiwans’ government websites.

Last week, China sanctioned five Taiwanese political commentators, a move that drew a rebuke from the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents Club (TFCC).

“Amid ongoing threats from Communist China, we must continue to support Taiwan as a free & independent nation,” Ms. Blackburn wrote.