Taiwan: War is Not an Option Amid Tensions with China

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Saturday to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, amid heightened tensions with China, which is intensifying military pressure on the democratically governed island. In a speech delivered at the Presidential Office in Taipei marking the seventh anniversary of her rule, she stated that "Taiwan will not be provoked and will not succumb to Chinese pressure." Tsai noted that "war is not an option, and neither side can unilaterally change the status quo through non-peaceful means... maintaining the status quo of peace and stability is a consensus of the world." Since Tsai took office in 2016, China has ramped up its military and diplomatic pressures to force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty, as Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and threatens to impose its control by force if necessary. Taiwan is preparing for a crucial presidential election in mid-January, with the tense situation with China dominating the campaign.