US Responds to President Lai's Inaugural Address, Looks Forward to Continued Cooperation with Taiwan, Urges China to Stop Pressure

Central News Agency (CNA reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, May 20, special dispatch) — In his speech marking the 2nd anniversary of his inauguration, President Lai Ching-te said that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and preventing external forces from changing the status quo are Taiwan's national strategic goals, and he is willing to engage in exchanges with China on the principle of equality. The U.S. State Department responded today, stating it looks forward to continuing cooperation with Taiwan to advance mutual interests and urged Beijing to stop its pressure on Taiwan. On May 20, Taipei time, President Lai stated in his 2nd-anniversary address that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and preventing external forces from changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait are Taiwan's national strategic goals. He emphasized that Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community, not a source of instability, and is willing to engage in healthy and orderly exchanges with China based on the principles of equality and dignity, but firmly rejects united front tactics that 'package unification in peace.' A U.S. State Department spokesperson, responding to a CNA reporter's query via email on background, stated that the U.S.'s firm commitment to Taiwan continues, consistent with its stance for over 40 years. 'Our policy toward Taiwan has not changed and remains guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances.' The spokesperson said, 'We look forward to continuing to work with President Lai and our Taiwanese partners to advance our shared interests and to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.' The spokesperson also stated that the U.S. urges Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue. Amidst Beijing's ongoing threats toward Taiwan, Thomas Shattuck, a Senior Program Manager at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House, said in an interview that in cross-strait relations, Beijing continues to try to change the status quo and has launched significant coercive actions against Taiwan. He pointed out that Beijing has made it clear it will not cooperate with a Taiwanese president who refuses to accept the '1992 Consensus.' Therefore, 'as long as this situation does not change, cross-strait relations will remain tense.' Understanding this situation, the responsibility to enhance Taiwan's defense and security lies with President Lai. In recent years, the Taiwan government has been progressively increasing its defense budget to counter the threat from the Chinese Communist Party. In his 2nd-anniversary address, President Lai stated that the Legislative Yuan's failure to fully pass the special defense budget bill will inevitably severely affect the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He said the government will take remedial action, propose another special bill, and through supplementary budgets and increased annual budgets, conduct commercial purchases, commission projects, engage in international cooperation, and promote defense industry self-sufficiency by producing land, sea, and air unmanned vehicles to build an intelligent and sustainable defense capability. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 11