China interprets Taiwan president's overture as attempting to "incite division"

President Lai Ching-te, in his inauguration speech on Monday, urged China to stop its threats against Taiwan and respect the will of the Taiwanese.

"I want to urge China to stop intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily, and to take on the global responsibility with Taiwan to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, to ensure the world is without fear of war," Lai said, addressing thousands of citizens and over 500 foreign dignitaries at Taiwan's presidential inauguration, per CNA.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said that Lai made an overture to Beijing when he expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue and other exchanges, Taiwan News reported.

Noting an example, Taiwan's MAC highlighted that Lai said a starting point could be resuming bilateral tourism and allowing Chinese students to study in Taiwan.

MAC further called on China to be receptive to Lai's "goodwill gesture" to promote mutual peace and prosperity.

However, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Spokesperson Chen Binhua said Lai had sent "dangerous signals" to Beijing.

Chen further accused Lai of attempting to "incite division" and stir up "separatist fallacies," and blamed Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for cross-strait tensions, as reported by Taiwan News.

Although, Lai did not mention independence in his speech and reaffirmed his intent to uphold the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

However, he warned the Taiwanese not to hold "illusions" toward China.

"Before China gives up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this: Even if we accept all of China's claims and give up our sovereignty, China's ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear," the newly sworn president said.

Moreover, Lai said that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, reported Taiwan News.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi crossed a line by calling Taiwan's new president "disgraceful."

He also admonished the US, South Korea, and Japan for sending delegations to Taiwan to attend Lai's inauguration.

The newly-elected president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was sworn in as the fifth popularly elected president of Taiwan on Monday.

The DPP will be the first ruling party to govern for a third consecutive four-year term, with Lai, 64, and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim taking office since Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996.

Lai and Hsiao won the election on January 13 after winning about 40 pe rcent of the votes in the 2024 presidential elections, keeping the DPP in power for another four years, as reported by Focus Taiwan. (ANI)