New Taiwan President Urges China To Stop Its Intimidation

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called on Beijing to cease its intimidation of the democratic island after he was sworn in as president, marking the start of a third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has championed democracy, Eric Cheung, Simone McCarthy, and Jessie Yeung reported for CNN.

Lai, 64, a former doctor and vice president, was inaugurated alongside new Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. I Photo: 賴清德Lai Ching-te X

Lai, 64, a former doctor and vice president, was inaugurated alongside new Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who recently served as Taiwan’s top envoy to the United States. Both leaders and their party are openly loathed by Beijing for championing Taiwan’s sovereignty.

China’s ruling Communist Party says the self-ruling democracy is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.

Lai used his 30-minute inaugural speech to broadcast a message of peace and declare that a “glorious era of Taiwan’s democracy has arrived,” describing the island as an “important link” in a “global chain of democracies,” while reiterating a determination to defend its sovereignty.

“The future of the Republic of China Taiwan will be decided by its 23 million people. The future we decide is not just the future of our nation, but the future of the world,” Lai said, using the formal name for Taiwan.