Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te says island ‘won’t yield an inch’ of its territory on anniversary of Kinmen battle

Hong Kong Free Press

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Friday the island will not cede an inch of its territory, as China maintains military pressure on Taipei to accept its claim of sovereignty.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kinmen, on Kinmen Island, on October 27, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan's Office of the President. — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou, on Kinmen Island, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan’s Office of the President.

Lai made the remarks during a visit to the Kinmen islands off China for the 75th anniversary of a victory over communist forces in the Battle of Guningtou.

It followed a fortnight of intense military activity in the Taiwan Strait — the sensitive waterway that separates China and Taiwan — with troops from both sides holding drills.

“(We) will not yield an inch of ground in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to firmly defend our homeland,” Lai said in a speech, referring to the islands controlled by Taipei.

“The Battle of Guningtou lets us understand that democracy and freedom should not be taken for granted, but require the joint efforts of generations to defend them,” Lai said.

Without naming China, Lai insisted that “any external forces” would not be allowed to change the future of the islands.

Taiwanese soldiers commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kinmen, on Kinmen Island, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan's Office of the President. — Taiwanese soldiers commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou, on Kinmen Island, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan’s Office of the President.

China’s Communist Party has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island as part of its territory and has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian brushed aside Lai’s comments, insisting that China and Taiwan “will and must be unified in the end”.

The dispute between Beijing and Taipei dates back to a civil war between Mao Zedong’s communist fighters and Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces, which fled to Taiwan in 1949 following their defeat.

The nationalists scored a key victory over the communists in the Battle of Guningtou on the Kinmen islands.

Lai, who took power in May and has been more outspoken than his predecessor in defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, earlier attended a sombre ceremony for the battle and shook hands with veterans.

Veterans of the Battle of Kinmen shake hands with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on the 75th anniversary of the campaign, on Kinmen Island, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan's Office of the President. — Veterans of the Battle of Guningtou shake hands with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on the 75th anniversary of the campaign, on Kinmen Island, on October 25, 2024. Photo: Chen Lin/Taiwan’s Office of the President.

In his speech, Lai said Taiwan’s “determination to defend our national sovereignty” and efforts “to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” were unchanged.

He repeated his hope that China and Taiwan will “conduct dialogue and exchanges with parity, dignity and in a healthy and orderly manner”.

Beijing severed high-level communications with Taipei in 2016 and has since ramped up military and political pressure on the self-ruled island.

China’s large-scale war games around Taiwan on October 14 were followed by live-fire drills near the island on Tuesday, and the transiting of a Chinese aircraft carrier group through the Taiwan Strait a day later.

Taiwanese troops conducted live-fire drills on Penghu island in the waterway on Thursday, days after a US and a Canadian warship sailed through the narrow passage.

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https://hongkongfp.com/2024/10/25/taiwans-president-lai-ching-te-says-island-wont-yield-an-inch-of-its-territory-on-anniversary-of-kinmen-battle/