Taipei, Sept. 2 -- President William Lai on Tuesday highlighted the urgent need for Taiwan to strengthen its defence capabilities and foster national unity, warning that Beijing's growing military activities are aimed at undermining the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait. His remarks, as reported by Taipei Times, came during an address to military officers in Taipei, where he described Taiwan's security outlook as "increasingly severe."

According to Taipei Times, Lai told the gathering, "Peace comes from the resolve to resist aggression and the strength to defend ourselves." He said China's Communist Party has repeatedly dispatched warplanes and naval vessels near Taiwan in recent years, conducting high-intensity drills while simultaneous...