Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated on Sunday that peace can only be secured through strength and that no territory would be sacrificed. The remarks were made during a visit to Kinmen, a frontline island located less than two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Chinese coast, to commemorate the 68th anniversary of a major battle with Chinese forces.
The visit marked the start of the 1958 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, which was the last instance of large-scale combat between Taiwanese and Chinese forces. Taiwan has controlled Kinmen and the Matsu islands since 1949, when the Republic of China government moved to Taipei following the civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists. No formal peace treaty has been signed between the two sides.
During a memorial ceremony held in heavy rain, Lai laid a wreath to honor veterans who fought to repel the 1958 bombardment. He called for unity in defending national sovereignty and announced that Taiwan’s planned defense spending for next year will exceed T$1 trillion ($30 billion) for the first time. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has labeled Lai a "separatist," did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The situation also impacts international maritime security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. Since early 2024, the Chinese coast guard has conducted regular patrols in Taiwan-controlled waters around Kinmen, a move that Taipei characterizes as a tactic to create unease. These activities put local fishermen and commercial shipping operators at risk of increased regulatory friction or confrontation in a narrow strait where the two sides are separated by less than two miles.
Looking ahead, the next milestone will be the legislative process for the record-breaking T$1 trillion defense budget. President Lai called for strong support for the funding, which will be debated following the government's formal announcement on Thursday. The lack of a peace treaty or armistice since 1949 means that these frontline islands remain centers of potential friction, with Taiwan observing every August 23 as the anniversary of its successful defense against the 1958 attack.