Taipei — One year into his presidency, Lai Ching-te of Taiwan has taken a precarious diplomatic stance — urging peace and dialogue with China while his government braces for escalating military intimidation and internal legislative paralysis.
In an anniversary address followed by a tense press conference on Tuesday, Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s defensive posture, warning that war in the Taiwan Strait would be catastrophic for all parties. “Peace is priceless, and in war there are no winners,” he said, before emphasizing that Taiwan’s desire for peace must not be mistaken for passivity.
The remarks came just days after Taiwan’s coast guard warned of potential Chinese retaliation. Since Lai took office, Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels have been deployed into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone at heightened frequencies — an average of 20 planes and 11 ships per day, according to Taiwanese defense officials.
China’s ruling Communist Party remains publicly hostile toward Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accusing them of separatism. Beijing severed formal communications with Taipei in 2016 and, through state outlet Xinhua, recently accused Lai of “charging headlong down a path of division and confrontation.”
Despite the rising tensions, Lai’s official speech was unusually restrained, omitting any direct mention of China. Analysts suggest this may reflect concern over how Taiwan might be used as a bargaining chip in future U.S.-China negotiations. Amanda Hsiao of Eurasia Group noted, “The trade de-escalation between Beijing and Washington has generated anxiety in Taipei over whether Taiwan will remain a top U.S. priority.”
Internally, Lai faces rising political obstruction from opposition parties, particularly the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who now control the legislature. His offer to provide national security briefings to opposition leaders was cautiously welcomed, though critics argue it’s a superficial gesture amid broader concerns of democratic backsliding and national security overreach.
Beijing, meanwhile, continues to employ hybrid tactics — including cyber intrusions, disinformation, and political warfare — designed to destabilize Taiwanese morale and international support. The CCP’s information warfare apparatus has allegedly targeted both civic institutions and diaspora communities to undermine Taipei’s position abroad.
The stakes of the conflict have never been higher. Taiwan’s global role in the semiconductor supply chain and its strategic location in the first island chain make it a geopolitical flashpoint. Any escalation could provoke regional conflict and disrupt global markets.
President Lai’s balancing act — between asserting sovereignty and avoiding provocation — reflects the enduring fragility of Taiwan’s position on the geopolitical chessboard. For now, Taiwan remains committed to dialogue. But its preparations suggest a nation that knows peace must be defended, not merely declared.
