Taipei: President Lai Ching-te's National Day address on Friday marked a shift in tone towards China, reducing direct criticism and emphasizing Taiwan's defense strategy. The speech, delivered on the 114th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name), signaled a strategic pivot as Lai seeks to balance cross-strait relations and bolster Taiwan's defense assurances to democratic allies.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lai's speech was notably less focused on cross-strait relations compared to his previous addresses. He urged China to "take responsibility as a major power" and expressed hope for Beijing to "renounce the use of force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait." This marked a departure from his earlier rhetoric, which had been criticized by China for promoting Taiwan independence.
William Yang, a senior analyst at International Crisis Group, noted the absence of "sharp and assertive language" in Lai's speech. Yang highlighted Lai's use of "softer and more reconciliatory language" as a strategy to reduce tensions and maintain the status quo peacefully.
Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, pointed out that while Lai accused China of expansionism, he also appealed to Beijing to act as a "responsible great power."
Tzeng Wei-feng, an associate research fellow at National Chengchi University, observed that Lai avoided repeating the "not subordinate to each other" phrase, following past criticism from China's state-run media and subsequent military exercises around Taiwan.
Wang Hung-jen, a professor at National Cheng Kung University, suggested that the omission reflects broader international considerations amidst U.S.-China rivalry, rather than a reaction to potential diplomatic meetings.
In a significant focus on defense, Lai announced plans to build the "T-Dome," a rigorous air defense system aimed at enhancing Taiwan's multi-layered defense capabilities. He reiterated Taiwan's commitment to increasing defense spending, aligning with U.S. calls for greater burden-sharing among allies.
Yang described the "T-Dome" announcement as a "clear signal" of Taiwan's determination to enhance its defense capabilities, aimed at garnering support from the U.S. and other democratic partners.
While specifics about the "T-Dome" remain undisclosed, Sung inferred it as a platform for deeper defense collaboration and intelligence-sharing with international allies. He emphasized the importance of early warning systems for effective missile interception.
Lai's focus on defense also aimed to align Taiwan's fate with regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, seeking partnerships with countries like the Philippines and Japan.
Yang suggested that Lai's strategic adjustment this year may complicate China's justification for further military exercises around Taiwan. However, Sung cautioned that Beijing's response remains uncertain.
Bao Chengke, from the Institute for East Asian Studies in Shanghai, argued that although Lai's rhetoric was less confrontational, his pro-independence stance remains unchanged. The reduced rhetoric was attributed to the failure of a mass-recall campaign against opposition lawmakers, leading to a more subdued cross-strait policy under Lai's leadership.
Bao concluded that while the speech is unlikely to escalate cross-strait tensions, the future trajectory of Taiwan's policy under Lai warrants further observation.