ANKARA

Marking his first year in office, Taiwan’s leader on Tuesday called for internal unity and cross-party dialogue.

“Democratic disputes are resolved through greater democracy,” Lai said, adding that he convened a national policy meeting with the heads of Taiwan’s five branches of government to foster cooperation.

With his party in the minority in the legislature, Lai urged all political leaders to prioritize national interests and work together to address Taiwan’s challenges.

He also said the first round of trade talks with the US had concluded and that negotiations were ongoing, stressing the government would not sacrifice any sector.

Lai did not mention China in his speech, but later told reporters that Beijing was threatening peace across the Taiwan Strait. “The aggressor is the one that undermines peace,” he said, while expressing openness to dialogue with China.

'Hypocritical gesture'

Beijing called Lai's proposal of cross-strait dialogue "on equal terms" a "hypocritical gesture" attempting to revive dialogue based on his "two states" theory.

"Only by recognizing the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China will cross-Strait dialogue and consultation have a basis to resume," said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, according to state-run Xinhua News.

Lai's remarks, Chen added, repeated his "separatist stance and underlined his desire to achieve his aims by force and with the support of external actors."

Chen reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and opposing all forms of separatist activities and external interference.

While Taiwan insists on its independence, China considers the island country its breakaway province.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid and Aamir Latif