Taiwan’s President Tells China That War Is ‘Absolutely Not an Option’

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan on Oct. 10, 2020. Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo

Taiwan’s president has ruled out armed confrontation with China, saying that her government is willing to engage with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reach a “mutually agreeable arrangement.”

In her national address on Monday, President Tsai Ing-wen said it was “regrettable” that China had escalated its military intimidation, diplomatic pressure, and trade obstructions to remove Taiwan’s sovereignty.

“I want to make clear to the Beijing authorities that armed confrontation is absolutely not an option for our two sides,” Tsai remarked.

“Only by respecting the commitment of the Taiwanese people to our sovereignty, democracy, and freedom can there be a foundation for resuming constructive interaction across the Taiwan Strait,” she added.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite Taiwan being a sovereign nation with a democratically elected government, and has vowed to conquer Taiwan by force if necessary.

The CCP has launched military drills near Taiwan after a controversial visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in August, firing multiple ballistic missiles over Taiwan and imposing a blockade of its international sea.

Tsai said that Taiwan is willing to negotiate with China to restore peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but that it must not compromise the freedom and democracy of the Taiwanese people.

“The broadest consensus among the Taiwanese people and our various political parties is that we must defend our national sovereignty and our free and democratic way of life. On this point, we have no room for compromise,” she said.

Bolstering Defense Capabilities

Tsai has made bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities as a top priority as she seeks to ensure that her country is “fully prepared” to respond to external military threats.

Taiwan has been boosting defense spending and increasing its mass production of precision missiles and high-performance naval vessels, as well as its military modernization efforts, the president said.

“Through our actions, we are sending a message to the international community that Taiwan will take responsibility for our own self-defense, that we will not leave anything to fate, and that we will work with our allies to jointly maintain security and stability in the region,” she said.

Carl Schuster, former director of operations at U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, said that the Chinese leadership hopes to force Taiwan to accept “reunification” without the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) having to invade the island by amphibious assault.

“I believe the PLA hopes that air and missile strikes will break Taiwan’s political will,” he told The Epoch Times on Sept. 30. “Historically, that hasn’t happened. Looking back on the Battle of Britain, the Germans hoped the same thing.”

Schuster believes that if Taiwan actively builds up its military, maintains the readiness and strength of its forces, and the United States stands firm in its commitment to Taiwan, Beijing will not take action because “they want a quick, easy victory.”

“China has to overcome minefields both in the water and on the beach, and Taiwanese people are committed to their defense,” he continued, saying that he doesn’t believe the CCP will succeed by 2030.

Jenny Li contributed to this report.