ROC President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated June 1 that the government is pursuing national security through three lines of defense to ensure peace and prosperity for the country.
Ma said Taipei will continue to promote relations with Beijing through negotiation under institutionalized frameworks. “This approach will deter either party from attempting to settle disputes or change the status quo in a nonpeaceful way,” the president said.
“Taiwan must also demonstrate to the global community its national strength and soft power as a peacemaker and a willing provider of humanitarian aid,” Ma said, adding that the country should work to win more support from its global allies for better protection.
The president made the remarks at the promotion ceremony for Air Force General Liu Cheng-wu at the Presidential Office, during which he paid tribute to the contributions of the ROC armed forces to Taiwan’s safety and well-being and urged continued commitment from all military personnel to protecting the nation.
While Taipei and Beijing have made great strides in improving bilateral relations in recent years, mainland China has not ruled out the use of force to resolve cross-strait issues, the president said.
“Taiwan will not engage in an arms race with mainland China, but to preserve the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait we must maintain a viable level of military power to deter aggression,” Ma stressed. (THN)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw