In his speech to mark the 113th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, Taiwanese President Lai Chinte said that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has no right to represent Taiwan. According to the president, the Republic of China, which has territories in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, is not subject to the PRC.
"The Republic of China, which took root in Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China are not subject to each other. Therefore, the PRC has no right to represent Taiwan," Chinte emphasized.
The President also emphasized that his mission is to protect and develop the country, as well as to ensure that the nation's sovereignty is not violated or annexed. Lai Chinte, like her predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, seeks international recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state, which angers China.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has threatened to use force to "reunify" the island with the mainland, despite the fact that Taiwan has never been under Chinese control. In historical context, in 1949 the government of the Republic of China, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war against Mao Zedong's Communists. The Republic of China announced its continued existence on the island and became one of the founders of the United Nations.
However, in 1971, the Republic of China lost its seat in the United Nations in favor of the PRC, and since then most countries in the world have followed the one-China policy, recognizing the jurisdiction of the PRC over both territories.
Taiwan has recently raised the level of combat readiness of its armed forces in response to missile launches by China that have caused international concern. Also, for the first time in history, Chinese aircraft carriers were deployed to the open sea, which, according to analysts, may indicate preparations for a possible conflict with Taiwan.
It is worth noting that Lai Chinte recently suggested that China take away "historical" lands in the Far East from Russia, which also caused a stir.
