TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed on Thursday (Oct 10) to "resist annexation"aurora game, as China exerts growing military and political pressure on the self-ruled island it claims as part of its territory.
China has not ruled out using force to bring the democratic island under its control, which Lai and his government oppose.
"I will also uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty," Lai said under grey skies during Taiwan's National Day celebrations.
Beijing and Taipei were "not subordinate to each other" and China had "no right to represent Taiwan", Lai said.
Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its territorial claims and relations have remained tense under Lai, who took office in May.
Lai has been more outspoken than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, angering Beijing, which calls him a "separatist".
China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday Lai was "hell bent" on independence.
Lai's speech "exposed his hell bent position on Taiwan independence and his sinister intention to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait for political self-interestaurora game," Mao told a regular press briefing.
From left: Taiwan's first lady Wu Mei-ru, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Speaker of the Legislature Han Guo-yu and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim cheer during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Oct 10, 2024. (Photo: AP/Chiang Ying-ying)