Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has described China as a “foreign hostile force” in some of his strongest remarks yet, as cross-strait tensions continue to escalate.
He said Taiwan had “no choice but to take even more proactive measures” in response, unveiling a series of new national security initiatives. These include the reinstatement of a military court system and tighter residency criteria for individuals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
China swiftly condemned Lai’s remarks, with its Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua branding him a “destroyer of cross-straits peace” and a “creator of crisis”. Binhua warned that China would have “no choice but to take decisive measures… [if] ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces dare to cross the red line”.
He added, “Those who play with fire will surely be burned.”
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan considers itself distinct from the Chinese mainland. Lai, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is seen as pro-independence, has previously drawn Beijing’s ire.
Before the recent elections, he was labelled a “troublemaker”, with Chinese state media even suggesting he should be prosecuted for secession.
Following a high-level national security meeting on Thursday, Lai also sounded the alarm over China’s growing espionage activities in Taiwan. He accused Beijing of exploiting Taiwan’s freedoms to recruit various members of society, including current and former military personnel, organised crime groups, and the media, in an effort to “divide, destroy and subvert us from within”.
According to Lai, Taiwanese authorities charged 64 individuals with spying for China in 2023—a three-fold increase from 2021. He noted that most of the suspects were either serving or former military officials.
To counter China’s infiltration and espionage efforts, Lai announced plans to restore Taiwan’s military court system, stating that the move would “allow military judges to return to the frontline… to handle criminal cases involving active-duty military personnel”. Taiwan had previously abolished military courts in 2013 following criticism over their handling of a conscript’s death.
Lai also urged authorities to “provide entertainers with guidelines on conduct while working in China” to prevent Beijing from coercing Taiwanese celebrities into actions that “endanger national dignity”. This follows criticism from Taiwanese officials over entertainers who recently shared social media posts calling for Taiwan to be “returned” to China.
Taiwanese actors and singers seeking success in China’s lucrative entertainment industry have faced mounting pressure to align with pro-Beijing views on cross-strait relations.
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