Marking his first year in office, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has emphasised the urgent need for peaceful relations with China, amid escalating cross-Strait military activity and deepening political discord at home, as reported by local Taiwanese media and The Guardian.

Lai warned that any armed conflict would be disastrous for all parties and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering its defence capabilities to deter any attempt by Beijing to seize the island by force. He described Taiwan as a society that values harmony and goodwill, but stressed that genuine pursuit of peace should not be interpreted as weakness.

He appealed to China to resume communication on equal footing, encouraging conversation over confrontation. Since 2016, Beijing has suspended all official contact with Taiwan’s government, viewing Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatist and illegitimate.

On the other hand, China’s state news outlet Xinhua accused Lai of aggravating tensions for personal and political gain. Meanwhile, China has ramped up its military presence near Taiwan, with an uptick in daily air and sea incursions into the island’s air defence zone.

In the lead-up to Lai’s speech, Taiwanese officials anticipated possible Chinese military drills or psychological tactics aimed at unsettling the population. While Lai has recently taken a firmer tone on China, his address largely centred on environmental, economic, and internal political matters, avoiding direct reference to Beijing.

To address internal gridlock, Lai proposed confidential briefings for the opposition leader, a move the Kuomintang (KMT) acknowledged as a small step forward, though they criticised the president for limiting political dissent and heightening cross-Strait tensions.

With China showing no sign of easing its military pressure, Lai’s strategy balances firm defence readiness with a cautious appeal for dialogue. The challenge ahead will be maintaining this delicate stance without provoking further escalation or losing ground in diplomatic efforts.