Taiwan's president says the island cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom
President Lai Ching-te said in his National Day speech on Saturday that Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom, and that there must be respect for the right of Taiwan's people to exist (Reuters via the Straits Times). The United States said Chinese maritime actions off Taiwan were deeply destabilising (Reuters, CNA). China's Taiwan Affairs Office said there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it (relayed by FinancialJuice).
Taiwan is central to global chip supply and to US-China relations, and Singapore depends on open sea lanes and stable trade. Each National Day speech is read for any shift in tone towards Beijing.
No direct effect today. Tension in the Taiwan Strait affects shipping, semiconductor prices and investor mood, which reach Singapore through trade and markets.
Lai's wording is measured: a call for peace with a firm line on freedom.
Beijing reads any assertion of Taiwan's right to exist as a step away from unification, and its reply is a reminder that the dispute is not narrowing.
Watch Beijing's reaction beyond words, such as military activity near Taiwan, and whether Washington's warning is followed by action.
DailyDrop Singapore edition No. 7 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 11, 2026