Democratic Taiwan must not become 'China's Taiwan', president says

TAIPEI — Taiwan must work together to protect its democracy and not become part of China, President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday, calling on members of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to oppose the "red terror" coming from Beijing.

Lai, who won election two years ago, and his ruling DPP, champion Taiwan's separate identity from China, a position that frequently angers Beijing which views the island as an inviolable part of Chinese territory.

Speaking to the DPP's annual convention, Lai said Taiwan must remain vigilant in times of peace, pointing to what he said was China's "legal warfare", such as its new ethnic unity law which gives Beijing the basis to take action against people outside its borders.

That has alarmed Taiwan, because it could give Beijing another legal basis to try and prosecute or arrest Taiwanese it views as separatists.

China has rejected all criticism of the law.

China's legal system has no jurisdiction in Taiwan.

"I also expect comrades within the party to stand on the front lines, unite as one, and jointly oppose the threat posed by China's 'red terror' t ...