Biagio warns of Beijing pressure as Taiwan upholds defense and dialogue

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim accepted an exclusive interview with the British newspaper *Financial Times* on the 21st of this month, clarifying her stance on cross-strait relations. She pointed out that in recent years, Beijing has continuously escalated military and diplomatic pressure, including frequent military exercises around the Taiwan Strait, dispatching fighter jets to circle Taiwan, and undermining Taiwan's space for international participation. These actions constitute substantial provocations. In contrast, Taiwan has consistently adhered to a defensive policy and has not proactively initiated conflicts. Vice President Hsiao emphasized that the people of Taiwan possess a high degree of resilience and the determination for self-defense, and will never allow any form of military threat to undermine security and democratic institutions on the island.

In the historical context of cross-strait interactions, the 1992 Consensus and the 1998 Cross-Strait Joint Declaration once provided a certain basis for communication between the two sides. However, as Beijing has adopted a more assertive posture in domestic and foreign affairs, the political atmosphere in the Taiwan Strait has gradually tightened. Since 2020, the Democratic Progressive Party administration has pursued a policy of "maintaining the status quo and peaceful dialogue," striving to handle differences in an equal and rational manner. Hsiao Bi-khim reiterated in the interview that Taiwan will not abandon opportunities to extend goodwill, and is willing to seek pathways for the peaceful resolution of disputes under the premise of respecting each other's core interests and sovereignty.

Taiwan's defensive posture is reflected not only in military deployments but also in the enhancement of international cooperation and information transparency. In recent years, Taiwan has continued to deepen security dialogues with the United States, Japan, and European countries, and has explained the cross-strait status quo to the international community through diverse channels to prevent unilateral information manipulation. Vice President Hsiao pointed out that the key to the peaceful resolution of disputes lies in restraint from both sides, avoiding any unilateral actions from escalating into conflict. She called on Beijing to abide by international law and basic norms of international relations when handling the Taiwan issue, and to grant Taiwan sufficient political space.

From the geopolitical perspective of the Taiwan Strait, the stability of cross-strait relations is of great significance to regional security. Should conflict escalate, it would impact East Asian supply chains, shipping routes, and energy security, further affecting global markets. Hsiao Bi-khim's remarks are intended to convey a message to the international community: Taiwan is willing to serve as a stabilizer for regional peace and hopes that all parties will jointly maintain a "healthy, orderly, and stable" state in the Taiwan Strait. She also reminded that peace is not passive waiting, but an active action requiring continuous dialogue and enhanced mutual trust from both sides.

Finally, Vice President Hsiao emphasized that Taiwan will not alter its direction in pursuing peace due to external pressure. She stated that the Taiwanese people's aspiration for peace and their insistence on national sovereignty are compatible, and the strategy of prioritizing defense while supplementing it with dialogue will continue in the future to ensure that cross-strait relations do not spiral out of control due to miscalculation or provocation. These remarks are not only a clear response to Beijing, but also provide domestic and international observers with an indicator of Taiwan's policy direction in the current complex international environment.