Newly sworn-in Taiwan President Lai Ching-te asked China to stop its military and political threats, saying in his inauguration speech that peace is the only choice and that Beijing had to respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.

Taipei

Lai Ching-teh has been sworn in as Taiwan's new president. The inauguration ceremony took place at the historic presidential office in Taipei, where Lai succeeded Tsai Ing-wen after serving as her vice president for four years. In his speech, Lai emphasized that peace is the only choice and urged China to respect the choice of the Taiwanese people and cease its military and political threats.

Lai asserted that the Taiwan Strait plays a pivotal role in global stability. He indicated that the new government would seek to maintain peace and the status quo, and called on China to take global responsibility for maintaining peace and stability. The ceremony was attended by former U.S. officials, lawmakers from various countries, and leaders from some of the 12 nations that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Lai addressed the realistic threat posed by China, emphasizing that Taiwan must be prepared to defend itself. He noted that China's ambition to annex Taiwan would not fade even if Taiwan were to accept all of China's claims and give up its sovereignty. Since Lai's election victory in January, Taiwan has faced continuous pressure from China, including frequent Air Force and Navy activities near the island. Beijing considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under control. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai and expressed the United States' interest in working with him to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.



Taiwan's new president sworn in amid China tensions

Lai Ching-teh took office as Taiwan's new president on Monday. He was sworn in at Taipei's historic presidential office, succeeding Tsai Ing-wen after serving as her vice president for four years. Lai said in his inauguration speech that peace is the only choice, and that Beijing had to respect the choice of the Taiwanese people. The future of the Taiwan Strait plays a decisive role in the future of the world, and as the people who take over the democratic progress of Taiwan, the new government will steer peace and maintain the status quo, being neither overbearing nor self-effacing. I also want to call on China to stop threatening Taiwan politically and militarily, to take on global responsibility for the maintenance of peace and stability, and to ensure the world is free from the fear of war. In attendance at the ceremony were former U.S. officials, lawmakers from various countries and leaders from some of the 12 nations maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Lai said that people must be realistic about the threat posed by China, and the island must show its determination to defend itself. We have the ideal to pursue peace, but we must not have illusions. As long as China does not give up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this. Even if we accept all of China's claims and give up our sovereignty, China's ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear. China did not respond immediately, despite previously labeling Lai a separatist. Since his election victory in January, Taiwan has faced continuous pressure from China, including frequent Air Force and Navy activities near the island. Beijing sees democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and hasn't ruled out using force to bring it under its control. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai, saying the United States looked forward to working with him to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

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Paris

Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics underway after Opening Ceremony

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Fujian

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