Taiwan's Lai Calls on Democracies to Unite and Warns China Against Shifting Taiwan Strait Status Quo

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te used his National Day address in Taipei on Saturday to call on regional democracies to stand together against threats to stability, speaking directly to concerns that a recent Trump-Xi summit could leave Taiwan vulnerable to a US-China deal struck over its head. Lai welcomed Washington and Beijing managing their rivalry through dialogue to reduce conflict risks, but made clear that any accommodation could not come at the expense of Taiwanese self-determination, saying the mighty cannot deny people the right to decide their own future.

Lai accused China of persistently using military pressure and grey-zone tactics to shift the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and pledged that Taiwan's increases in defence spending were aimed at deterring war rather than provoking conflict. He framed Taiwan as a small but principled actor committed to protecting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and said Taiwan must be recognized as having the right to exist. The US separately described Chinese military actions off Taiwan as "deeply destabilising," adding an official American voice to Lai's warnings on the same day.

The speech came against a backdrop of uncertainty over a proposed $14 billion US arms package to Taiwan, which President Trump said he had not yet decided whether to proceed with following his summit with Xi Jinping. Lai struck a careful tone, welcoming US-China engagement while insisting Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom, positioning the island as a stabilizing force trusted by the international community.