Taiwan leader says 'foreign forces' cannot decide island's future

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TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te declared that foreign forces cannot determine Taiwan's future, strongly rejecting escalating political and military pressure from China.

Speaking during his high-profile inaugural address in Taipei, Lai pledged to vigorously strengthen the island's self-defense capabilities while maintaining regional stability and safeguarding domestic democratic institutions.

The address comes amid heightened cross-strait tensions, with Beijing consistently asserting its territorial sovereignty claims over the self-ruled island.

Lai emphasized that Taiwan remains committed to the global democratic alliance, asserting that any future decisions regarding its political status belong solely to its twenty-three million citizens.

While offering to resume peaceful dialogue with Beijing based on the principles of dignity and parity, the leader stressed that the island must actively modernize its military infrastructure to deter external aggression. Lai concluded that a resilient defense posture is essential to maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.