Taiwan President Lai says China’s threat to any individual country is threat to the world

TAIPEI (Reuters) – China’s threat to any individual country is a threat to the world, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday, adding that the island will continue to work hard to promote defensive self-reliance and foreign arms purchases.

Taiwan will also work hard to promote regional peace and stability, Lai told a conference in Taipei aimed at coordinating the policies of democratic governments towards China.

China, which views the democratically governed island as its territory, has been staging regular military exercises for years to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing’s claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s strong objections.