Taiwanese President William Lai again offered to hold talks today with China after two days of military exercises by Beijing around the island and said it expects to improve mutual understanding and reach reconciliation, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
China, which considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its territory, held military exercises in the region on Thursday and Friday and said it was a "punishment" after Lai's inauguration speech on Monday. According to Beijing, this was another attempt to declare the island's official independence.
China has repeatedly criticized Lai, saying he is a "separatist". Lai rejects Beijing's claims over Taipei and says only the people of Taiwan can decide their future. He repeatedly offered to hold negotiations, but this was rejected.
During a meeting of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party in the southern city of Tainan, Lai urged China to "share the heavy responsibility of regional stability with Taiwan,", his party said.
Lai, who won the election in January, also said he "looks forward to strengthening mutual understanding and reconciliation with China through exchange and cooperation, creating mutual benefit and contributing to the achievement of peace and common progress". He thanked the United States and other nations for expressing their concern over China's military exercises.
"The international community will not accept any country creating tension in the Taiwan Strait and hindering regional stability," Lai added.
Taiwan's government has condemned China's military maneuvers. China has been conducting regular military activity around Taiwan for the past four years as it seeks to put pressure on the island's government, Reuters notes.