Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday, 19 June called on China to cease its military expansion across the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait, and to abandon any use of force against the island. Speaking at a reception for foreign correspondents in Taipei, Lai also reaffirmed Taiwan's readiness to engage with Beijing on the basis of equality and mutual dignity.

Key Remarks at the Correspondents' Reception

Addressing the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club, Lai underscored that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election — a milestone he framed as proof that democratic self-determination can withstand external pressure. He recalled that Taiwan held those elections in 1996 despite active missile threats from China, arguing the exercise sent a clear signal to the international community that sovereignty belongs to the people.

Lai stated categorically that China and Taiwan are not subordinate to each other and that Taiwan is not part of China — a formulation that directly challenges Beijing's longstanding 'one China' position. He added that only 23 million Taiwanese can determine the island's future.

Lai's Post on X and the G7 Backing

In a post on X, Lai wrote: 'With the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club today, I marked 30 years of direct presidential elections in Taiwan, highlighting our democracy and thriving economy. Echoing the G7 leaders' statement, I stressed our commitment to upholding the status quo; I urge China to choose peace over the use of force.'

Lai also expressed gratitude to G7 leaders, who at their summit in Évian, France, reiterated their opposition to any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion. The G7 statement read: 'We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue.'

China's Escalating Military Posture

The remarks come as China has significantly increased the frequency and scale of its military exercises around Taiwan in recent years. Beijing maintains that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory and has not ruled out reunification by force. Taiwan, backed by strong domestic public support, continues to assert its sovereignty and has consistently responded to Chinese military incursions.

This is not the first time Lai has publicly challenged Beijing's military assertiveness since taking office; his remarks have consistently drawn sharp reactions from mainland Chinese officials, who view any assertion of Taiwanese sovereignty as a provocation.

What This Means for Cross-Strait Relations

The confluence of Lai's statements and the G7 communiqué represents a notable alignment between Taipei and the world's leading democracies on the Taiwan question. Analysts note that the explicit G7 language on the Indo-Pacific and the rule of law signals growing multilateral pushback against China's assertiveness in the region.

With the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's democratic presidential elections approaching, the geopolitical stakes around the strait are expected to remain elevated through the remainder of 2026.