By Ben Blanchard and Yi-Chin Lee
KINMEN, Taiwan, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Peace can only be secured through strength and not even an inch of territory can be sacrificed, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday, visiting a sensitive frontline island to mark a key battle with Chinese forces almost seven decades ago.
Taiwan has controlled the Kinmen and Matsu islands, which lie just off the Chinese coast, since the Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists. No peace treaty or armistice has ever been signed.
In heavy rain, Lai laid a wreath and bowed at a memorial park for the 68th anniversary of the 1958 clash with Chinese forces, known as the start of the second Taiwan Strait crisis — the last time Taiwanese and Chinese forces battled on a large scale.
Addressing veterans later, Lai expressed gratitude to those who "stood united and fought a ******* battle to repel Communist totalitarian aggression".
#kinmen #blanchard
KINMEN, Taiwan, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Peace can only be secured through strength and not even an inch of territory can be sacrificed, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday, visiting a sensitive frontline island to mark a key battle with Chinese forces almost seven decades ago.
Taiwan has controlled the Kinmen and Matsu islands, which lie just off the Chinese coast, since the Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists. No peace treaty or armistice has ever been signed.
In heavy rain, Lai laid a wreath and bowed at a memorial park for the 68th anniversary of the 1958 clash with Chinese forces, known as the start of the second Taiwan Strait crisis — the last time Taiwanese and Chinese forces battled on a large scale.
Addressing veterans later, Lai expressed gratitude to those who "stood united and fought a ******* battle to repel Communist totalitarian aggression".
#kinmen #blanchard
1 month ago
