Taiwan President Warns Cadets of China's Ambitions at Military Academy Anniversary

In a speech delivered on Sunday, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te addressed the challenges posed by China and emphasized the need for the country to defend its sovereignty.

Lai emphasized that China sees the annexation and "elimination" of Taiwan as a crucial national objective. He pointed out that China's aggressive stance towards Taiwan is aimed at undermining the current state of affairs in the Taiwan Strait and considers Taiwan's annexation as a key part of its rejuvenation.

Lai's Response

Lai reiterated that the future of Taiwan should be determined by its people and expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Beijing. He also highlighted the importance of the military in safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, urging cadets to understand the evolving challenges in the "new era."

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to Lai's remarks. However, Wang Huning, a senior leader in China's ruling Communist Party, stressed the historical necessity of reunification for the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" and vowed to counter any separatist endeavors.

Defense of Taiwan

Lai called upon the cadets to distinguish between friends and foes and resist the notion of inevitable defeat, emphasizing the need to defend Taiwan from annexation attempts. He underscored that any decisions regarding Taiwan's future should rest solely with its people, rejecting external interference.

The speech was delivered on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Whampoa Military Academy, reflecting on the history of the academy established in Guangzhou in 1924. The academy, initially created to establish a professional military force loyal to the Republic of China, later relocated to Kaohsiung after the communist victory in the civil war forced the Republican government to flee in 1949.