President: Defending ROC Status Quo, No 'Taiwan Independence' Issue
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- 📰 Published: May 17, 2026 at 21:55
- 🔍 Collected: May 17, 2026 at 22:01 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 17, 2026 at 22:05 (3 min after Collected)
TAIPEI (CNA) — After being briefed by his national security team on the latest situation, President Lai Ching-te explained five key points to the nation today, including that Taiwan is the guardian of the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region; China is the root of regional instability and changing the status quo; in defending the Republic of China's status quo, there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue; and that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded.
In a Facebook post this evening, the President noted that in recent days, U.S. President Trump visited China and met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and that everyone is very concerned about the Taiwan issue mentioned in the Trump-Xi meeting. The government has also noted that the U.S. government, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly reiterated that the long-standing U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed. For this, he thanked the U.S. government for its continued attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and its support for Taiwan.
The President stated that he had just received reports from his national security team, including the National Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Mainland Affairs Council, and the National Security Bureau, for a complete understanding and discussion of the latest situation.
The President said he wanted to explain five points to the public. First, Taiwan is the guardian of the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. Maintaining the status quo is the ROC's consistent and firm position and the greatest consensus of the 23 million people of Taiwan. He has stated publicly many times that as a responsible party in the region and across the strait, Taiwan will not provoke, will not escalate conflicts, but will not give up its national sovereignty, dignity, and democratic way of life under pressure. Taiwan has always been a steadfast guardian of the cross-strait status quo, not the party changing it.
Second, he stated that China is the root of regional instability and changing the status quo. In recent years, China has continued to expand its military activities in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, including military aircraft and ship harassment, large-scale military exercises, gray-zone coercion, and various military, political, and economic pressures on neighboring countries.
Third, the President said that in defending the Republic of China's status quo, there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue. The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign, independent, and democratic country. He has reiterated many times his insistence on the free and democratic constitutional system, the non-subordination of the ROC and the PRC to each other, the non-infringement and annexation of sovereignty, and that the future of the Republic of China, Taiwan, must follow the will of all Taiwanese people. This is the greatest consensus of the entire Taiwanese people and the status quo that Taiwan seeks to defend. There is no so-called 'Taiwan independence' issue.
He pointed out that he is willing to promote healthy and orderly exchanges and dialogue with China on the premise of equality and dignity. However, he rejects China's united front infiltration and coercive, politically motivated exchanges and dialogue under the guise of 'unification,' which is in fact an attempt to annex Taiwan. This is the government's bottom line in cross-strait relations.
Fourth, the President stated that U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation and arms sales are key elements in maintaining regional peace and stability. Long-term U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation and arms sales are based on the Taiwan Relations Act. This is not only a U.S. security commitment to Taiwan but also has long been the most important deterrent against a-t-il to regional peace and stability.
He thanked President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continued increase in the scale and value of arms sales to Taiwan, helping Taiwan to strengthen its self-defense capabilities.
The President stated that Taiwan is a key hub in the first island chain of Indo-Pacific security and defense. As China has never renounced the use of force to annex Taiwan and continues to expand its military power in an attempt to change the regional and cross-strait status quo, continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the deepening of U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation are necessary and are key elements in maintaining regional peace and stability.
Fifth, the President said that Taiwan is at the heart of global core interests, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded. Taiwan is a key node for Indo-Pacific security, a core of global AI and semiconductor development, and an indispensable part of global supply chain restructuring. Taiwan is at the heart of global core interests, and any act that undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only a blatant provocation against international rules and order but will also have a major impact on Indo-Pacific security, global supply chains, and the world economy.
He pointed out that ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait has always been a high degree of consensus and a common interest of Taiwan, the United States, and all democratic countries in the world. Taiwan will never be sacrificed or traded.
Finally, the President emphasized that peace depends on strength, on the will of the people to defend freedom and democracy, and on firm cooperation with allies. Taiwan will continue to shoulder the responsibility of enhancing its self-defense capabilities, steadfastly guarding freedom and democracy, maintaining the status quo with neither subservience nor arrogance, and making active contributions to regional and global peace and prosperity. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150517
In a Facebook post this evening, the President noted that in recent days, U.S. President Trump visited China and met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and that everyone is very concerned about the Taiwan issue mentioned in the Trump-Xi meeting. The government has also noted that the U.S. government, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has repeatedly reiterated that the long-standing U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed. For this, he thanked the U.S. government for its continued attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and its support for Taiwan.
The President stated that he had just received reports from his national security team, including the National Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Mainland Affairs Council, and the National Security Bureau, for a complete understanding and discussion of the latest situation.
The President said he wanted to explain five points to the public. First, Taiwan is the guardian of the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. Maintaining the status quo is the ROC's consistent and firm position and the greatest consensus of the 23 million people of Taiwan. He has stated publicly many times that as a responsible party in the region and across the strait, Taiwan will not provoke, will not escalate conflicts, but will not give up its national sovereignty, dignity, and democratic way of life under pressure. Taiwan has always been a steadfast guardian of the cross-strait status quo, not the party changing it.
Second, he stated that China is the root of regional instability and changing the status quo. In recent years, China has continued to expand its military activities in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, including military aircraft and ship harassment, large-scale military exercises, gray-zone coercion, and various military, political, and economic pressures on neighboring countries.
Third, the President said that in defending the Republic of China's status quo, there is no 'Taiwan independence' issue. The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign, independent, and democratic country. He has reiterated many times his insistence on the free and democratic constitutional system, the non-subordination of the ROC and the PRC to each other, the non-infringement and annexation of sovereignty, and that the future of the Republic of China, Taiwan, must follow the will of all Taiwanese people. This is the greatest consensus of the entire Taiwanese people and the status quo that Taiwan seeks to defend. There is no so-called 'Taiwan independence' issue.
He pointed out that he is willing to promote healthy and orderly exchanges and dialogue with China on the premise of equality and dignity. However, he rejects China's united front infiltration and coercive, politically motivated exchanges and dialogue under the guise of 'unification,' which is in fact an attempt to annex Taiwan. This is the government's bottom line in cross-strait relations.
Fourth, the President stated that U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation and arms sales are key elements in maintaining regional peace and stability. Long-term U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation and arms sales are based on the Taiwan Relations Act. This is not only a U.S. security commitment to Taiwan but also has long been the most important deterrent against a-t-il to regional peace and stability.
He thanked President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continued increase in the scale and value of arms sales to Taiwan, helping Taiwan to strengthen its self-defense capabilities.
The President stated that Taiwan is a key hub in the first island chain of Indo-Pacific security and defense. As China has never renounced the use of force to annex Taiwan and continues to expand its military power in an attempt to change the regional and cross-strait status quo, continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the deepening of U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation are necessary and are key elements in maintaining regional peace and stability.
Fifth, the President said that Taiwan is at the heart of global core interests, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded. Taiwan is a key node for Indo-Pacific security, a core of global AI and semiconductor development, and an indispensable part of global supply chain restructuring. Taiwan is at the heart of global core interests, and any act that undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only a blatant provocation against international rules and order but will also have a major impact on Indo-Pacific security, global supply chains, and the world economy.
He pointed out that ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait has always been a high degree of consensus and a common interest of Taiwan, the United States, and all democratic countries in the world. Taiwan will never be sacrificed or traded.
Finally, the President emphasized that peace depends on strength, on the will of the people to defend freedom and democracy, and on firm cooperation with allies. Taiwan will continue to shoulder the responsibility of enhancing its self-defense capabilities, steadfastly guarding freedom and democracy, maintaining the status quo with neither subservience nor arrogance, and making active contributions to regional and global peace and prosperity. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150517