TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan National Day celebrations were organized throughout the country on Friday, with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) commending Taiwan’s resilience and democratic governance.

In a speech titled “A New Taiwan Rises in a Time of Change,” Lai heralded a bright future for the country as a responsible member of the international community. In a press release, the Ministry of International Affairs emphasized Taiwan’s sovereignty among nations. 

In line with Taiwan’s National Day celebrations, the foreign ministry reminded other nations that Taiwan is not subordinate to China. Taiwan has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China, nor was Taiwan ever ceded to the PRC’s control, as affirmed by the Treaty of San Francisco.

Taiwan called on Beijing to take responsibility as a major power and face the objective reality that China does not, and can not, represent Taiwan. Beijing should cease its attempts to exclude and disparage Taiwan with its willful distortions of international agreements such as United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758.

The ministry appealed to nations for a rejection of China’s coercive and malicious behavior. Furthermore, Taiwan invited democratically minded governments to work with Taiwan and support the country’s continued contributions to the international community.

Taiwan remains committed to maintaining the status quo and promoting prosperity and economic development. China should renounce the use of force and work with Taiwan to ensure pease, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific, per the ministry’s press release.