Taiwan reaffirms sovereignty as China drills

President Lai Ching-te said on May 18 that Taiwan would not give up its sovereignty, answering a new round of pressure from Beijing and comments by U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump’s trip to China. Lai said Taiwan would not provoke conflict but would not relinquish “national sovereignty and dignity” or its democratic system under pressure, according to reports published on May 17 and May 18. (en.mofa.gov.tw) Trump said on May 15 that he opposed any formal declaration of Taiwanese independence after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, according to France 24, which cited Reuters video from Taipei showing coverage of the summit. (en.mofa.gov.tw) Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry answered a day later that the island is a sovereign democratic country and that long-standing U.S. policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged. China has paired that diplomatic pressure with military activity. (upi.com) Recent reporting has described Beijing’s exercises around Taiwan as blockade simulations and part of a broader campaign of coercion aimed at the self-ruled island. ### What exactly did Lai say this time? Lai said on Sunday that Taiwan “will not provoke or escalate conflict,” but also “will not relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way of life, under pressure,” according to Al Jazeera and UPI. (france24.com) He also said Taiwan had been a “staunch maintainer of the status quo” across the Taiwan Strait. The wording matters because Lai framed Taiwan’s position as both defensive and sovereign. (firstpost.com) UPI reported on May 18 that he called Taiwan’s sovereignty “non-negotiable,” while other reports said he rejected any suggestion the island could be “sacrificed or traded.” ### Why did Trump’s remarks trigger a response in Taipei? Trump said on May 15 that he was against Taiwan declaring formal independence from China, after Xi pressed him on U.S. support for the island during their Beijing meeting, France 24 reported. (aljazeera.com) Trump also questioned U.S. military backing and described arms sales to Taiwan as a possible negotiating chip in dealings with China, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times and other outlets. (upi.com) Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry replied on May 16 that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a “sovereign and independent democratic nation” and “is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.” The ministry added that Washington had repeatedly said its long-standing policy toward Taiwan had not changed. ### What is Taipei trying to make clear about sovereignty? Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has repeated in several statements this month that neither Taiwan nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. (france24.com) In releases published on May 12 and May 16, the ministry said the PRC has no right to claim jurisdiction over Taiwan and no statement denigrating Taiwan’s sovereignty can change that reality. Those statements fit a long-running line from Taipei: that the PRC has never governed Taiwan and that only Taiwan’s elected government can represent its people. (en.mofa.gov.tw) The ministry has used that formula in earlier statements as well, including archived releases cited on its English-language site. ### How do the Chinese drills fit into this? Chinese military pressure around Taiwan has become more frequent since Lai took office in May 2024, according to the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute. (en.mofa.gov.tw) Their May 1 update said the People’s Liberation Army had normalized more than 300 Taiwan air defense zone incursions per month beginning in May 2024, though the monthly total fell below 200 early this year. Separate reporting on China’s recent exercises described them as rehearsals for isolating Taiwan, including simulated blockade operations. (en.mofa.gov.tw) Taiwan has accused Beijing of intimidation, while China has said such drills are aimed at deterring separatism and outside support for the island. ### What should readers watch next? May 16 is the key date for Taipei’s formal response so far. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry posted its reaction to Trump’s post-summit comments that day and said it had taken note of repeated U.S. statements that policy had not changed. (understandingwar.org) The next signals are likely to come from three places: any new White House or State Department clarification on Trump’s remarks, any further PLA activity around Taiwan reported by Taipei’s defense authorities, and any additional public comments from Lai as his government responds to both Beijing and Washington. (firstpost.com) (en.mofa.gov.tw)