Taiwan's President says the threat from China is ... - CNN

Taipei, Taiwan (CNN) The leader of Taiwan, the island thrust into the center of rising tensions between the United States and China, ... JUSTWATCHEDTaiwan'sPresidentconfirmsUStroopsaretrainingmilitaryontheislandReplayMoreVideos...MUSTWATCHTaiwan'sPresidentconfirmsUStroopsaretrainingmilitaryontheisland07:32Taiwan'sPresidentsaysthethreatfromChinaisincreasing'everyday'andconfirmspresenceofUSmilitarytrainersontheislandByWillRipley,EricCheungandBenWestcott,CNNUpdated0851GMT(1651HKT)October28,2021Taipei,Taiwan(CNN)TheleaderofTaiwan,theislandthrustintothecenterofrisingtensionsbetweentheUnitedStatesandChina,saidthethreatfromBeijingisgrowing"everyday,"asforthefirsttimesheconfirmedthepresenceofAmericantroopsonTaiwanesesoil.SpeakingwithCNNinanexclusiveinterviewTuesday,PresidentTsaiIng-wensaidTaiwan,whichislocatedfewerthan200kilometers(124miles)awayfromChina'ssoutheasterncoast,wasa"beacon"ofdemocracythatneededtobedefendedtoupholdfaithworldwideindemocraticvalues."Hereisthisislandof23millionpeopletryinghardeverydaytoprotectourselvesandprotectourdemocracyandmakingsurethatourpeoplehavethekindoffreedomtheydeserve,"shesaid."Ifwefail,thenthatmeanspeoplethatbelieveinthesevalueswoulddoubtwhetherthesearevaluesthatthey(should)befightingfor."TaiwanandmainlandChinahavebeenseparatelygovernedsincetheNationalistsretreatedtoTaiwanattheendoftheChinesecivilwarmorethan70yearsago.Taiwanisnowaflourishingdemocracybutthemainland'srulingChineseCommunistParty(CCP)continuestoviewtheislandasaninseparablepartofitsterritory--despitehavingnevercontrolledit.ReadMoreToday,relationsbetweenTaipeiandBeijingareattheirlowestpointindecades.Earlierthismonth,China'smilitarysentarecordnumberofwarplanesintotheairaroundTaiwanwhilediplomatsandstate-runmediawarnedofapossibleinvasionunlesstheislandtoestheCCPline.ThedisplaysofforcearepartlytheresultofstrengtheningtiesbetweenTaiwanandtheUnitedStatesunderPresidentsDonaldTrumpandJoeBiden.LargearmssalesandhighprofilevisitsbyUSofficialshavebolsteredTaiwan'sinternationalstandingandantagonizedBeijing.InherinterviewwithCNN,TsaibecamethefirstTaiwanPresidentindecadestoacknowledgethepresenceofUStroopsontheislandfortrainingpurposes.ThelastofficialUSgarrisonleftin1979,theyearWashingtonswitchedformaldiplomaticrecognitionfromTaipeitoBeijing,thoughlastyearmediareportshintedatsmalldeployments.TheUSmilitarypostedandthendeletedavideoinearly2020thatshowedUSArmySpecialForcestrainingsoldiersinTaiwan.InNovember2020,Taiwan'sDefenseMinistryannouncedandthendeniedtolocalmediathatUStroopsweretraininglocalsoldiersontheisland.Tsaiwouldn'tsayexactlyhowmanyUSmilitarypersonnelareontheislandatpresentbutsaiditwas"notasmanyaspeoplethought.""WehaveawiderangeofcooperationwiththeUSaimingatincreasingourdefensecapability,"shesaid.JUSTWATCHEDTensionsbetweenmainlandChinaandTaiwansparkdebateinsideBidenadminReplayMoreVideos...MUSTWATCHTensionsbetweenmainlandChinaandTaiwansparkdebateinsideBidenadmin02:37RisingChina-TaiwantensionsAformertradenegotiatorandlawprofessor,TsaibecameTaiwan'sfirstfemalepresidentin2016,ahistoricwin,whichcameafterlargestudentprotestsontheislandagainstherNationalistpredecessor'smovetoformclosertieswithmainlandChina.WhenTsaitookCNNforawalkaroundTaipeiearlierthisweek,hundredsoflocalcitizenswavedandcalledouttoher,thankingherforherhardworkandaskingtoposeforselfies.ButTsai'spresidencyhasbeenrelentlesslyattackedandridiculedfromacrosstheTaiwanStrait--sinceTsaitookoffice,relationsbetweenBeijingandTaipeihavefastdeteriorated.Chinaisn'tabouttoinvadeTaiwan.ButthetwosidesareonadangerouspathTheChinesegovernmentbelievesTsaiandherparty,theDemocraticProgressiveParty,areinfavorofformalTaiwanindependence,despiteherpublicstatementsfavoringthestatusquo--anarrangementbywhichTaiwanremainsself-ruled,withoutanofficialdeclaration.EconomicanddiplomatictieswithChina,developedoverpreviousgovernments,havefrayed,andtheChinesemilitaryhasrampedupitspressureontheisland.InthefirstfivedaysofOctoberalone,Beijingflewatotalof150fighterjets,nuclear-capablebombers,anti-submarineaircraftandairborneearlywarningandcontrolplanes,intoTaiwan'sAirDefenseIdentificationZone,accordingtotheisland'sDefenseMinistry.ItwasacarefullyexecutedshowofforcebytheChinesegovernment--strayingintoareaswhereitwouldprovokearesponsefromTaiwanbutnotenteringtheisland'sairspace.ChinesePresidentXiJinpingdeliversanimportantspeechattheGreatHallofthePeopleinBeijing,onOctober9.ThemaneuverscameafterfurthersignsofwarmingUS-Taiwanties,includinga$750millionarmssaleannouncedbyWashingtoninAugustandastatementbytheUS-ledQuadforeignpolicygroupinfavorofsupportingtheislandthesamemonth.InamajorspeechonOctober8,ChinesePresidentXiJinpingagainpledged"peacefulreunification"betweenTaiwanandthemainland.Althoughhemadenomentionofaninvasioninthespeech,Xihaspreviouslyrefusedtoruleoutmilitaryaction.AspokesmanforChina'sTaiwanAffairsOfficeconfirmedWednesdaythatBeijingreservedtherighttouseforcetopursue"reunification."JUSTWATCHEDChinasendswarningtoUSinmilitarytrainingpropagandavideoReplayMoreVideos...MUSTWATCHChinasendswarningtoUSinmilitarytrainingpropagandavideo01:47TaiwanPresidentopentoChinatalksAlthoughaself-confessedintrovert,Tsaiisapassionatedefenderofherislandandafierceadvocateforherpeople.OnTaiwan'sNationalDayonOctober10,inresponsetogrowingChinesemilitaryaction,PresidentTsaisaidTaiwancouldnotbeforcedtofollow"thepathChinahadlaidoutforit.""ThereshouldbeabsolutelynoillusionsthattheTaiwanesepeoplewillbowtopressure,"shesaid.SpeakingtoCNNTuesday,Tsaicalledonregionaldemocraticpartners,includingJapan,SouthKoreaandAustralia,tohelpsupporttheisland."Whenauthoritarianregimesdemonstrateexpansionisttendencies,democraticcountriesshouldcometogethertostandagainstthem.Taiwanisonthefrontlines,"shesaid. "Whenauthoritarianregimesdemonstrateexpansionisttendencies,democraticcountriesshouldcometogethertostandagainstthem"TsaiIng-wenTaiwanPresident Tsaiwasre-electedin2020withalargerpercentageofthevoteandaspartofhersecondterm,shetoldCNNshewantedtorapidlymodernizeTaiwan'smilitary.InAugust,Taiwanannounceditwouldspend$1.4billiononnewfighterjets,likelyF-16s.InDecember2020,theisland'smilitarybeganconstructiononafleetofeightdomesticallyproducedsubmarines.TsaitoldCNNthegovernmentneededtobettertailoritsmilitarytodefendasmallisland,ratherthanaconventionalfightingforce."WehaveasystemthatisinheritedfromChina,whichisaverydifferentcountry...Thewayyoudefendabigpieceoflandisdifferentfromthewayyouprotectasmallisland,sowehavetochangethetraditionalthinkingabouthowamilitaryshouldbestructured,"shesaid.However,TsaiaddedthatshewasnotabandoningthepossibilityofimprovedrelationswithBeijing,sayingshewouldsitdownwithChineseleaderXifortalks--ifhewaswilling."I(would)encouragehimtohavemoredialoguewiththegovernmentandpeoplehereinTaiwan,andtogetabetterfeelofwhatit'slikeinTaiwan...And,ofcourse,wewoulddomoreintermsofunderstandingthesituationinChina,"shesaid."WehavesaidagainandagainthatwewanttohavedialoguewithChinaandthisisthebestwaytoavoidmisunderstanding,miscalculationandmisjudgmentinthemanagementofthecross-straitrelations,"sheadded.China-Taiwantensionsareraisingfearsofaconflict.InTaipei,however,peopledon'tseemworriedTsai:USwouldcometoourdefenseTherearenotreatiesbetweentheUSanditsregionalpartnersthatwouldguaranteeassistancetoTaiwanintheeventofanattack.ButastensionshaverisenbetweenTaipeiandBeijing,somecountrieshaveexpressedsupportfortheisland.Japan'sDefenseMinisterNobuoKishitoldCNNinaninterviewinmid-Septemberthat"what'shappeninginTaiwanisdirectlylinkedtoJapan,"andTokyowouldrespondtoanythreatstothesecurityoftraderoutesintheregion.InatownhallhostedbyCNNonThursday,USPresidentBidenwasfirmonthequestionofwhethertheUSwoulddefendTaiwanintheeventofaChineseinvasion.BidenvowstoprotectTaiwanineventofChineseattack"Yes,wehaveacommitmenttodothat,"hesaid.TheWhiteHousesubsequentlyplayeddownhiscommentsand,speakingtoCNN,Tsaisaidpeoplehave"differentinterpretations"ofwhattheUSPresidentmeant.However,TsaisaidshebelievedifTaiwancameunderattackfrommainlandChina,theUSandotherregionaldemocracieswouldcometoitsaid,"giventhelong-termrelationshipwehavewiththeUS.""Taiwanisnotalonebecauseweareademocracy,werespectfreedomandwearepeacelovers.Andwesharevalueswithmostofthecountriesintheregionandgeographicallyweareofstrategicimportance,"shesaid,pointingtotheisland'sleadingroleintheglobalsemiconductorsupplychainandaddingregionalpowershada"commoninterest"inkeepingtheislandsafe.WhenaskedifTaiwancoulddefenditselfwithoutmilitaryassistance,Tsaisaidtheislandwoulddefenditself"aslongaswecan...Butletmereiterate,it'simportantthatwehavethesupportofourfriends,andalsolike-mindedcountries,"shesaid.DefendingTaiwandoesn'tjustinvolvemilitarymight.AspartofthegrowingUSsupportforTaiwan,WashingtonhasstartedpushingforgreaterparticipationbyTaipeiininternationalgoverningbodies,especiallytheUnitedNations.USSecretaryofStateAntonyBlinkensaidonhisofficialTwitterMondaythatTaiwanwasa"criticalpartnerandademocraticsuccessstory"andcalledforittohaveagreaterroleattheUN.Beijing,whichtookTaipei'sseatattheUNin1971,hassincebeensuccessfulinlargelysqueezingtheislandoffoftheinternationalstage.TsaisaidithaslongbeenthepolicyofallsidesofTaiwan'spoliticsfortheislandtotakeagreaterroleattheUN.Shesaidshewasn'tconcernedaboutaggravatingBeijing."WehaveexpressedourhopethatwewanttobepartoftheUNsystem.AndChinahastheirstorytotell.Andit'sfortheinternationalcommunitytojudge,"shesaid.JUSTWATCHEDTaiwanshowcaseshomegrownmissilesonnationaldayReplayMoreVideos...MUSTWATCHTaiwanshowcaseshomegrownmissilesonnationalday02:29Tsai:Xi'sChina'moreambitious'Tsai'stimeinofficehascoincidedwiththeriseofamoreassertiveBeijing,withXinowconsideredthemostpowerfulChineseleaderindecades.Duringhissecondterminpowersince2017,XihasbeguntochangehowChinapositionsitselfglobally.UnderXi,thecountry'smilitaryhasgrownlargerandmoreadvanced,withChina'snavalfleetovertakingthatoftheUSintermsofsize.Justthisweek,Xitoldaconferencethemilitaryneededto"breaknewground"inweaponsdevelopment.Atthesametime,Xi'sforeignpolicygoalshaveledtothepromotionoffiercelynationalisticdiplomats,knownas"wolfwarriors,"insidetheForeignMinistry,whoarewillingtovocallydefendChina'spositionsofhighlycontroversialandsensitiveissues--withTaiwanoftenbeingcalledthereddestofBeijing's"redlines."Tsaisaidsherecognizesthethreatfromtheisland'sincreasinglypowerfulneighbor."(They're)moreambitious,moreexpansionist.Andthereforethingsthatwereacceptabletothem,maynotbeacceptabletothemnow,"shesaid. "Democracysometimesischaotic.It'smessy,confrontational,butattheend,youfindthebestwaytogovern"TsaiIng-wenTaiwanPresident However,Tsaisaidshebelievedthetwogovernmentscouldstilllivetogetherinpeacedespitethedifferencesintheirpoliticalsystems."Ifwecansitdownandtalkaboutourdifferencesandtrytomakearrangementssowecancoexistpeacefully?Ithinkthatistheexpectationofourpeoplehere,andthepeopleinChina,aswellasthepeopleintheregion,"shesaid.TsaisaidthetimewasapproachingfortheChineseCommunistPartytodecidewhatsortofrelationshipitwantedtohavewiththeregionandwiththerestoftheworld.UShasfewgoodoptionsifChinaseizesislandsclosetoTaiwan,wargameconcludes"DoesXiwanttohaveapeacefulrelationshipwitheverybodyintheregionorintheworld,ordoeshewanttobeainadominantpositionsothateverybodylistenstohim,listenstoChina?"shesaid.Tsaihasn'tgivenuphopefordemocracyinChinathough,despitemovestowardsgreaterauthoritariancontrolunderXi."Democracysometimesischaotic.It'smessy,confrontational,butattheend,youfindthebestwaytogovern,thebestwaytoestablishasocialordersothatpeoplecanlivetogetherpeacefully,"shesaid.Bylaw,Tsaicanonlyservetwotermsbut,withjusttwo-and-a-halfyearsleftinofficebeforeshestepsdowninJanuary2024,shestillhasalottogetdone.HerprioritiesincludeconnectingTaiwantotheworldandshoringupitscommunityagainstattemptsbyothergovernmentstodivideit.Tsaisaidshehopesthatsheisrememberedasaleaderwholeftherpeoplemore"united.""Ihopetheywillremembermeassomeonewhomadetheutmostefforttoprotectthisplace,tomakethisplacemoresecureandmoreresilient,"shesaid.GladysTsaiinTaiwancontributedtothisstory.VideobyJohnMees.