'Won't yield an inch' in defence of island's territory, says Taiwan president: Video
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed on Friday, October 25 that Taiwan will not cede any territory as China intensifies its military pressure on the island.
Speaking during a visit to the Kinmen islands, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the victory over communist forces in the Battle of Guningtou, Lai emphasized Taiwan's commitment to defend its sovereignty.
"(We) will not yield an inch of ground in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to firmly defend our homeland," Ching-te was quoted by AFP.
"The Battle of Guningtou lets us understand that democracy and freedom should not be taken for granted, but require the joint efforts of generations to defend them," he added.
While refraining from directly naming China, Lai asserted that "any external forces" would not be permitted to alter the future of the islands.
The remarks come amid heightened military activity in the Taiwan Strait, with drills conducted by both Taiwanese and Chinese troops over the past two weeks.
China has never recognized Taiwan's sovereignty, viewing the island as part of its territory and stating it will not renounce the use of force to assert control. The historical conflict between the two dates back to the Chinese Civil War, which led to the Nationalists' retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after their defeat by Mao Zedong's forces.
