“China muststop its political and military intimidation against Taiwan” launched the new president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, 64, in Taipei on Monday May 20, after taking the oath of office in front of dozens of foreign delegations. This warning addressed to the People’s Republic of China at the start of his inauguration speech gives an idea of the nature of relations with his bellicose Chinese neighbor during the next four years of his presidential mandate. “A mandate with multiple challenges”recognizes on the X network, Bonnie Glaser, director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund.
A “glorious era” of democracy
After greeting “the glorious era” of Taiwanese democracy, the new president from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), falsely perceived by China as an independence party, called on Beijing to “share with Taiwan the responsibility to the world for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the entire region, and ensure that the world is free from the fear of war” . Between the lines, Lai Ching-te defends the moderate line of ” status quo “ current situation in the Taiwan Strait: neither independence nor attachment to the Chinese continent.
“He thus wants to show that he is not “anti-China” but that it is Beijing which is “anti-Taiwan”, analyzes Jean-Yves Heurtebise, professor of philosophy at the Catholic University of Fujen in Taipei, and that he is always open to unconditional dialogue. » A way of emphasizing that “China is the aggressor and not Taiwan”, which refuses the slightest military or diplomatic provocation. “ His party, the DPP, will never declare the independence of Taiwan,” assures Paul Jobin, sociologist at the Academia Sinica in Taipei. Because he knows that he would break the “status quo”, lose American support and provoke a Chinese military reaction.
However, tensions in the Taiwan Strait where China sends its warships and fighter planes daily are pushing the Taiwanese government to prepare its defense. “Faced with numerous threats and infiltration attempts, we must demonstrate our determination to defend our nation, we must also increase our defense preparedness and strengthen our legal framework for national security”noted Lai Ching-te after taking office.
Strengthening Taiwan’s defense
Following on from his predecessor, Lai Ching-te is expected to increase military spending and strengthen ties with certain powers, including the United States, which is the main supplier of arms to Taiwan. “Especially since China will undoubtedly step up its military exercises around Taiwan by accusing Lai of adding fuel to the fire” specifies Jean-Yves Heurtebise.
His inauguration was largely ignored in Chinese state media, and was overlooked on the home pages of CCTV television and People’s Daily, Monday May 20, late morning. The social network Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of the X platform, blocked hashtags linked to the new Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, preventing it from becoming trendy on the social network on the day of his inauguration. China, however, warned on Monday that efforts aimed at Taiwan’s independence would result in a ” dead end “according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. “No matter in what form or under what banner, Taiwan’s pursuit of independence and secession is doomed to failure”he added.
