Taipei (EFE).- Taiwanese President William Lai said Monday that peace between China and Taiwan cannot be achieved “through a simple agreement,” emphasizing that the island must rely on its own defense and deterrence capabilities rather than Beijing’s proposals.
In a speech before members of Taiwan’s overseas community, Lai said both he and his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen (2016–2024) have focused on strengthening national defense, noting that “peace must be an ideal, but not an illusion.”
“Peace cannot be achieved through a simple agreement,” Lai said. “Nor can it be attained by accepting China’s proposals, such as the so-called 1992 Consensus or the ‘one China’ principle.”
The 1992 Consensus is an informal understanding between Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) party and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), under which both sides acknowledge there is “one China,” but disagree on what that means.
Lai, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), warned that China’s growing military capabilities leave no room for complacency. He pointed out that during former KMT President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration (2008–2016), Taiwan’s defense spending fell even as China’s defense budget “expanded at double-digit rates, increasing its missile, ship and aircraft carrier arsenal — without any ‘peace dividend.’”
Lai said Taiwan’s defense budget as a share of GDP will rise from 2.5 percent to 3.32 percent in 2026, with a goal of reaching 5 percent before 2030.
“This not only strengthens security but also drives industrial and economic growth through defense self-reliance,” he said. “Thanks to its solid industrial base, Taiwan is well positioned to become a key part of the global defense ecosystem.”
His comments came two days after Cheng Li-wun, a former government spokesperson (2012–2014) and legislator, was elected as the new KMT chairperson.
Cheng, who vowed to transform the KMT “from a flock of sheep into a pride of lions,” won Saturday’s party primary with 50.15 percent of the vote, defeating former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, who received 35.85 percent.
On Monday, Cheng said she was “willing” to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who a day earlier expressed hope that the KMT and CCP would “strengthen their political foundation” and “advance toward national reunification,” according to Chinese state media. EFE
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