Beijing has ramped up military and political pressure on Taiwan in recent years, and launched war games days after Lai’s inauguration, encircling the island with fighter jets and naval vessels.
Taiwan’s military has been reporting near-daily sightings of Chinese warships around its waters, as well as sorties by fighter jets and drones around the island.
But Lai said China’s “military expansionism” was taking place elsewhere, pointing to Beijing’s joint exercises with Russia in the South China Sea, Western Pacific and Sea of Japan.
“Such actions are intended to intimidate China’s neighbours and undermine regional peace and stability,” he said.
“Taiwan will not be intimidated. We will take responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Lai has repeatedly made overtures for dialogue with Beijing but talks have effectively dried up since the 2016 election of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who has long said Taiwan is not part of China.
“Taiwan will neither yield nor provoke … On the condition of parity and dignity, we are willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China,” Lai reiterated Wednesday.
