‘War is not an option’: Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen vows to maintain cross-strait status quo

Island will not provoke nor bow to pressure from the mainland, Taiwanese president says, marking the seventh year of her presidency

Neither side can unilaterally change the status quo with non-peaceful means, she says

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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is into the final year of her second term as the island’s leader. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:12pm, 20 May 2023Updated: 7:28pm, 20 May 2023

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Saturday to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait amid high tensions with Beijing, which has stepped up military pressure on the democratically governed island.

Taiwan would not provoke and would not bow to mainland Chinese pressure, Tsai said in a speech in the presidential office in Taipei marking the seventh anniversary of her governance.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan as its own and threatens to bring the island under its control if necessary, has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to force the island to accept Beijing’s sovereignty since Tsai took office in 2016.

Beijing has rebuffed calls for talks from Tsai, regarding her as a separatist. Tsai has repeatedly vowed to defend Taiwan’s freedom and democracy.

“War is not an option. Neither side can unilaterally change the status quo with non-peaceful means,” Tsai said.

“Maintaining the status quo of peace and stability is the consensus for both the world and Taiwan.