Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has faced harsh criticism from China's Taiwan Affairs Office for praising relations with the United States and emphasizing independence. China accused him of "selling out the country to foreigners," calling him "immoral for offering his flesh and blood to outsiders," and stated that Taiwan's independence attempts would fail.
Redaksiya reports that in his statement, Lai Ching-te emphasized that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, and only the people of Taiwan can determine their future. He also said that Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize if he finds a peaceful solution regarding China.
Lai Ching-te's statement was made two days before Taiwan's national day speech. The Chinese authorities, for their part, had warned by conducting military exercises around the island after last year's event, stating that they do not renounce the right to use force to establish control over Taiwan.