TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In light of China's recent implementation of harsh measures against staunch Taiwanese independence advocates, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) defended the island's democratic principles on Monday, asserting that democracy is not criminal and authoritarianism is the real threat. He argued that China lacks the authority to penalize Taiwanese citizens based on their political beliefs.
During a Monday morning address titled "Guarding Constitutionalism, Protecting the People" (守護憲政、保護人民), President Lai addressed these concerns and later responded to media inquiries about the new rules. He reiterated his stance that the regulations overstep by threatening severe punishments, including death, for what China deems as acts of national division.
In response to China's view that any opposition to unification signals support for Taiwanese independence, Lai highlighted that only the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) does not back independence. He called for unity among all political factions to confront these challenges collectively.
Furthermore, Lai urged China to acknowledge the Republic of China (ROC) and engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected leaders, suggesting that failure to do so would only exacerbate tensions between the two.