Taiwan's message to the international community is that it is determined to defend itself and that people should not believe claims that it has surrendered in the event of an invasion, President Lai Ching-te said, quoted by "Reuters".
The democratically governed island is facing increased military pressure from China, which considers it its territory. Taiwan's government rejects the claims and insists that only the island's people can decide their future.
Speaking at a forum on Taiwan's efforts to strengthen its preparedness for natural disasters or war, Lai referred to the government's new civil defense manual, which was released on Tuesday as part of efforts to prepare people for a possible Chinese attack.
The manual provides vital information on how to protect ourselves, he told an audience that included Western envoys in Taipei.
"More importantly, we are telling everyone: 'In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the country has been defeated is false,'" he said.
"As commander-in-chief of the Republic of China Armed Forces, I want to tell my fellow citizens and the international community that this is Taiwan's position," he stressed. Lai, using Taiwan's official name.
"We are determined to defend freedom and democracy, as well as a resilient Taiwan".
China has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.
This week, Taiwan hosted its largest arms exhibition, attracting a host of international companies seeking to gain a share of the island's rapidly rising defense spending.
The island has been actively courting global defense companies for closer cooperation, such as joint arms production.