Peace, stability in Taiwan Strait our 'top priority,' says island's President Lai

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) — Taiwan's president on Wednesday accused Beijing of "distorting" a 1971 UN resolution in support of its "one-China principle," underlining that his administration's top priority was to "maintain peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait.

"We have seen China intensifying its military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait," William Lai Ching-te told the New York-based Concordia Annual Summit in a video address.

UN Resolution 2758 establishes that Beijing is the sole representative of both the sides of Taiwan Strait at the UN.

But, Lai stressed, "Our goal is to make Taiwan stronger, because a stronger Taiwan is better able to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world."

China, which claims Taiwan in full, held large-scale military exercises around the island nation after Lai was inaugurated in May.

The drills included blockade practices by the Chinese military around north, south and east of Taiwan's main island and in the Taiwan Strait, as well as near its outlying islands.

"Through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, China poses serious threats to global peace and stability," Lai said.

Beijing, he added, "often uses lawfare and distorts history to expand its power."

As the UN General Assembly holds its 79th session in New York, Lai said: "China has distorted UNGA (UN General Assembly) Resolution 2758 in support of its 'one-China principle,' falsely claiming that Taiwan is a part of the People's Republic of China and that we have no right to participate in the UN system and other international fora."

Lai, who has been dubbed a "dangerous separatist" by Beijing, said his administration's top priority was to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by promoting an action plan called the "four pillars of peace."

The plan includes strengthening Taiwan's national defense, building economic security, strengthening partnerships with "democratic countries," and "stable and principled cross-strait leadership."

"Taiwan will neither yield nor provoke, and will maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We will remain committed to safeguarding regional peace and stability," he said.