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Taiwan National Day speech: Lai says defence spending aims to deter war

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In his Taiwan National Day speech on 10 October, President Lai Ching-te said higher defence spending was meant to deter war, not provoke it, Al Jazeera reported. China condemned the address as separatist, Xinhua reported.

Taiwan National Day speech: AI-generated illustration of the scene
AI-generated illustration based on reports by Al Jazeera, Focus Taiwan and Xinhua.

Main points of the Taiwan National Day speech

Lai said Taiwan would uphold peace but would not give up its freedom, according to the full text published by Focus Taiwan. He opposed subordination to Beijing and urged Indo-Pacific democracies to keep the region stable.

Key Facts

  • Speech delivered on 10 October
  • Lai: defence spending to “deter war”
  • China calls speech separatist (Xinhua)
  • Appeal to Indo-Pacific democracies

Speech title

The speech was titled “Taiwan’s Future: A City upon a Hill, the Salt and Light of the World”, according to the Office of the President. Lai described Taiwan as a reliable and stabilising force, broadcaster RTI reported.

Taiwan National Day speech: data graphic of key reported figures
Taiwan National Day speech: key lines. Graphic: TrendDesh, built from Al Jazeera, Xinhua figures.

China's response

Xinhua reported that mainland authorities criticised what they called Lai’s secessionist narrative. Beijing said Taiwan is part of China. Cross-strait tensions have remained high through the year. The speech marked Taiwan’s National Day, known as Double Ten.

What comes next

Beijing’s swift rejection suggests cross-strait tensions will stay high. Lai’s call to regional democracies signals that Taipei wants wider backing.

Why It Matters: Taiwan Strait tensions affect global trade routes and the chip supply chain India also relies on.

Also on TrendDesh: Trump Iran pledge: no US attack before 3 November midterm elections · US sanctions on ICC target the court itself; ICC calls it assault on rule of law

Sources: Al Jazeera · Focus Taiwan · Xinhua

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