Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said Monday she is committed to boosting the self-ruled island's defense capabilities, but armed confrontation with China is "absolutely not an option" despite escalating tensions in cross-strait relations.
In a speech to mark the 111th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, as Taiwan calls itself, Tsai said her administration is willing to work with Beijing and what they need is mutual respect.
Her remarks calling for dialogue based on "rationality" and "equality" came as their ties have been even more strained since a high-profile visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nany Pelosi in August and the Chinese military holding major drills in the strait afterward.
As the opening of China's ruling Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress approaches Sunday, at which leader Xi Jinping is widely expected to win an unprecedented third five-year term, Tsai said, "I want to make clear to the Beijing authorities that armed confrontation is absolutely not an option for our two sides."
"Only by respecting the commitment of the Taiwanese people to our sovereignty, democracy, and freedom can there be a foundation for resuming constructive interaction across the Taiwan Strait."
She also said it is regrettable that Beijing's recent actions have threatened the status quo of peace and stability in the region.
Although some differing views about China exist in Taiwan, the broadest consensus among the island's citizens and political parties is that its sovereignty and free and democratic way of life must be defended.
"On this point, we have no room for compromise," she said, adding that strengthening self-defense capabilities, such as through the mass production of precision missiles and advanced naval vessels, is requisite.
China reacted coolly to Tsai's speech, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying at a press conference in Beijing that the root cause of the current cross-strait tensions is the policy of Tsai's government to seek the island's independence.
"The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Mao said. "We will create ample space for peaceful reunification but never leave any space for Taiwan independence secessionist activities."
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Beijing regards the democratic island as a breakaway province to be reunified by force if necessary.
Xi proposed in 2019 to explore a Taiwanese version of the Hong Kong model of "one country, two systems." But the independence-minded Taiwanese leader has made it clear that she will not engage in talks under such an idea.
While speaking for Taiwan's National Day, Tsai used the word "resilience" many times and described the trait as being vital for its future, economically and socially, as well as for its security.
Tsai said building "democratic resilience" is key to safeguarding Taiwan.
"We can have different positions, and we can debate with one another, but we should unanimously and resolutely stand behind our free and democratic system, no matter how much external pressure we face," she said.
To make Taiwan more resilient in all sorts of spheres in the post-COVID-19 era, she said it has to deepen international cooperation and ties with democratic allies.
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