President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan delivered a National Day address in Taipei on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of peace and the need for a peaceful coexistence with Beijing across the Taiwan Strait. Tsai's address came amid ongoing tensions between Taiwan and mainland China.

President Tsai opened her speech by underlining Taiwan's unwavering commitment to defending its sovereignty and preserving its free and democratic way of life. She declared that there was "no room for compromise" on these fundamental principles.

"Taiwan at this moment has become a Taiwan of the world," President Tsai proclaimed, highlighting Taiwan's significance in global geostrategy, the development of global democracy, and international supply chain systems. She stated that Taiwan has emerged as "the most reliable, effective, and safest partner to the world," leading to an unprecedented level of international support.

President Tsai's address emphasized that, as Taiwan stands confidently before the world, it can also approach its relationship with China with calmness and self-assurance. She stressed the importance of creating conditions for peaceful coexistence and future developments across the Taiwan Strait.

During her speech, President Tsai stated, "Peace is the only option across the Taiwan Strait," and she expressed Taiwan's willingness to work towards "a path to peaceful coexistence" with Beijing. She highlighted the need for a mutually acceptable foundation for interaction and cooperation, provided that the "Taiwan public consensus" is respected, and both sides engage with each other on reciprocal terms. However, Tsai did not provide specific details about the nature of this public consensus.

Tsai acknowledged the significant changes in cross-Taiwan Strait relations over the past seven years but reassured that her administration had "kept its promises and maintained the status quo." She stressed that maintaining the status quo is crucial for ensuring peace and that differences between the two sides should be resolved peacefully, with no unilateral changes to the existing situation.

The President also noted that her administration had not provoked China nor acted rashly in cross-strait relations since she took office in 2016. Instead, Taiwan has sought to deepen cooperation with democratic countries, making it a reliable partner in global supply chains and democratic development. Tsai highlighted that the international community recognizes Taiwan's importance in maintaining peace and stability in the region, leading to unprecedented support for Taiwan.

Tsai emphasized that these efforts have allowed Taiwan to approach its relationship with Beijing "calmly and self-assuredly" and have created conditions for peaceful coexistence between both sides of the Taiwan Strait. She called on Taiwan and China to contribute to regional peace and promote free and unrestricted interactions among their people, describing it as a historic responsibility shared by both sides.

In the face of external threats, President Tsai called for unity among different political parties and people with various backgrounds in Taiwan, emphasizing that everyone in Taiwan shares a common destiny. She highlighted Taiwan's commitment to improving its defense capabilities and mentioned the recent launch of the military's prototype of the first indigenous defense submarine, named Narwhal, as a significant step toward greater defense self-sufficiency and enhanced asymmetric capabilities.

As President Tsai nears the end of her second term in office, her message underscores Taiwan's commitment to peace, stability, and maintaining the status quo in cross-strait relations while striving for a peaceful coexistence with mainland China.