Taiwan's Lai calls on Indo-Pacific democracies to 'join forces' for peace as China pressure grows

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026 · last updated 11 October 2026.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te used his National Day address on Saturday to demand that democracies across the Indo-Pacific unite to preserve regional stability, warning that authoritarian expansion threatens the entire international rules-based order. He insisted Taiwan will not surrender its freedom, even as China intensifies military and political pressure on the island. Lai also said Taiwan welcomes dialogue between Washington and Beijing to reduce the risk of war, but declared there must be "respect for the right of the people of Taiwan to exist."

China's Xi Jinping told Trump in May he expected the US to oppose Taiwan independence, and a record $14 billion arms package to the island has since stalled.

Lai warned that China is actively trying to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, framing Taiwan's resistance as a test of whether the international community still believes force cannot override rules.