Taiwan 'not the only target' of China's pressure

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te warned on Wednesday that China's “growing authoritarianism will not stop” on the island and called on democratic countries to unite to stop its expansion.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and a senior Chinese Communist Party official said on Tuesday that Beijing was confident of “complete reunification” with the island.

Speaking at the annual Ketagalan Forum on Indo-Pacific Security in Taipei, Lai warned that Taiwan was not Beijing's “only target.”

“We are all fully aware that China's growing authoritarianism will not stop at Taiwan, and Taiwan is not the only target of China's economic pressure,” he told politicians and scholars from 11 countries attending the forum.

See also: Top Beijing officials call for anti-Taiwan independence resolution at Hong Kong conference

“China is intent on changing the rules-based international order. That is why democratic countries must unite and take concrete action. Only by working together can we stop the spread of authoritarianism.”

“Military expansionism”

Barking, who was sworn in on May 20has been labeled a “dangerous separatist” by China for his staunch defense of Taiwan's sovereignty.

Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure on Taiwan in recent years and launched military exercises days after Lai's inauguration, surrounding the island with fighter jets and warships.

Taiwan's military has reported almost daily sightings of Chinese warships in the country's waters, as well as fighter jets and drones flying around the island.

See also: Foreign Policy Heavyweights on Taiwan's Uncertain Future

But Lai said China's “military expansionism” was also taking place elsewhere, pointing to Beijing's joint exercises with Russia in the South China Sea, the Western Pacific and the Sea of ​​Japan.

“Such actions are aimed at intimidating China's neighbors and undermining peace and stability in the region,” he said.

“Taiwan will not be intimidated. We will take responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

Lai has made repeated attempts to open dialogue with Beijing, but talks have effectively ground to a halt since the election in 2016 of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who has long maintained that Taiwan is not part of China.

“Taiwan will not give in or provoke… On the basis of parity and dignity, we are ready to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China,” Lai reiterated on Wednesday.

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