《TAIPEI TIMES》 Peace in Taiwan Strait benefits world: president

SHARED IDEAL: William Lai said the international community is in agreement that any country using force to change the ‘status quo’ must be opposed

By Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang / Reuters

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Peace in the Taiwan Strait benefits the whole world and the international community believes that without it, there can be neither prosperity nor security, President William Lai （賴清德） said yesterday.

China has ramped up its pressure against Lai, whom it views as a “separatist,” and staged two days of war games around Taiwan after he took office last month.

Speaking to new recruits at an army base in Taichung, Lai said that every drop of their sweat was to protect Taiwan’s national security.

“The international community believes these days that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a necessary component for global security and prosperity,” he said. “No matter whether it’s the United States, Japan, South Korea or the European Union, and the heads of state or prime ministers of many nations, they all agree on this point, opposing any country using force to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.”

“Our efforts are all for the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, for Taiwan’s security, and our democratic, free system and continued economic development,” he said. “Peace in the Taiwan Strait benefits global peace.”

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills are scheduled for next month and this year are to be as close as possible to actual combat.

Over the past week, Taiwan has reported detecting 203 Chinese military aircraft operating nearby, getting as close as 31 nautical miles （57km） to Taiwan proper, Ministry of National Defense data showed.

China last week threatened to prosecute those deemed “diehard” supporters of Taiwanese independence and execute people in the most serious cases, prompting Taipei to warn Taiwanese to avoid the country.

Lai has rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims and has said only Taiwanese can decide their future.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES