Taiwan President to Pledge Defence of Sovereignty, Democracy

In a significant speech on Sunday, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will commit to safeguarding the island's sovereignty and democracy, saying the island faces difficulties that are more complicated and severe than ever before, at a time when tensions with China have grown.

Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has come under increasing military and political pressure from Beijing, which included this month four straight days of mass incursions by China’s air force into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone.

President Tsai will declare that Taiwan is on the front lines of safeguarding democracy and faces extremely complicated and terrible challenges, according to an outline of her national day speech provided to Reuters by a source briefed on its contents.

President Tsai would reaffirm Taiwan's unwavering commitment to self-defence and regional peace and stability, while also emphasising that Taiwan will not "advance rashly."

She will add, though, that there can be no retreat when it comes to Taiwan's sovereignty.

Following a week of tensions with Taiwan that raised the international alarm, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve "peaceful reunification" with the island but did not specifically discuss the use of force.

Taiwan reacted fiercely to the address, claiming that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their own fate and condemning China's coercive tactics.

Tsai was re-elected by a landslide last year on a promise to stand up to Beijing, but China refuses to speak to her, fearing she is a separatist.

Taiwan, according to Tsai, is an independent country known officially as the Republic of China.

She has made improving Taiwan's defences a priority of her government in order to provide a more credible deterrent to China, which is embarking on an extensive military modernization programme of its own.

Tsai attended a national day reception at the Hsinchu Airbase in northern Taiwan on Saturday evening, where she honoured the armed personnel for their sacrifices to safeguard the island.