Lai Visits Hualien Military Base Ahead of Lunar New Year
President Lai Ching-te has visited a military base on Taiwan's east coast to thank troops for their hard work and hand out red envelopes, which contain tokens of luck and usually some money, ahead of the Lunar New Year. He also called for the country to stay committed to its defense.
President Lai Visits Troops in Hualien Amid Rising Tensions
REPORTER:
Not far from here, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulated troops for their hard work over the last year, handing out red envelopes ahead of the Lunar New Year.
REPORTER:
The event was a celebration, but President Lai also hinted at rising tensions with China— which claims Taiwan as its territory and has increased military drills and gray-zone activity over the past year.
Earlier in the day, Lai’s office released a letter to Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Europe, the Vatican, saying any attempt to change Taiwan’s status through war would never bring “true peace”.
Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):
At the end of last year
China carried out drills around Taiwan.
Troops from the Second Operational Zone responded quickly
demonstrating our deterrence capabilities.
That let the public clearly see
our military’s solid combat strength
and reassuring society.
REPORTER:
Part of Lai’s response to China’s aggression is a $40-billion US dollar special defense budget introduced in November. But that package— along with about 20 percent of the overall defense budget— remains stalled in the opposition-controlled legislature.
Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):
I also hope the opposition parties
can set aside differences
on defense and national security issues
for our own servicemen and women
and work to secure a bigger budget
and invest more resources to protect our sovereignty.
REPORTER:
Lai has previously said these funds are needed to counter Chinese activity.
Driving the point home, earlier in the day Taiwan’s defense ministry announced it tracked 26 PLA aircraft operating around the country between Thursday and Friday morning.
REPORTER:
Now all this comes a year ahead of 2027, the deadline Chinese President Xi Jinping has given his country’s military to be ready to invade Taiwan.
With Chinese military pressure ramping up, and the legislature deadlocked over the budget, Taiwan and Lai could be looking at a difficult Year of the Horse.
John Su and Lery Hiciano in Hualien, for TaiwanPlus.
