Taiwan President Says Island’s Future Belongs to Its People

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Wednesday that the future of the island should be decided by its 23 million citizens and not by foreign forces. Speaking at a news conference marking the second anniversary of his inauguration, Lai said his administration’s priority remains maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

He added that he remains willing to engage with Beijing through orderly exchanges based on equality and dignity.

Office accused Lai of inciting cross-strait confrontation by supporting Taiwan independence. Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Lai peddles separatist fallacies and uses a democracy-versus-authoritarianism narrative to describe relations with Beijing. The office also accused Lai of ignoring the wellbeing of the Taiwanese public to pander to external forces seeking independence through foreign aid or force.

Lai has faced pressure from both inside and outside Taiwan during his first two years in office. The opposition-controlled legislature reduced a special defense budget from $40 billion to $25 billion and attempted to impeach him over a tax revenue dispute.

A TVBS poll conducted earlier this month showed Lai’s approval rating at 38 percent, up from 32 percent in his first year, while his disapproval rating fell from 55 percent to 44 percent. Lai said his government would take other measures to address the defense spending shortfall.

China has conducted five rounds of military exercises around Taiwan since his May 2024 inauguration. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that arms sales to Taiwan could serve as a negotiating chip with Beijing following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Lai also had to reroute a state visit to Eswatini in April after several countries denied him airspace access amid reported Chinese pressure.