Taiwan's President Pledges to Strengthen Defence at Battle Commemoration

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on Friday voiced the island's "determination" to protect itself, and spend more on defense, after taking part in a ceremony marking a battle with Chinese forces 66 years ago.

Lai attended the annual August 23 Artillery Battle commemoration ceremony while visiting the outlying islands of Kinmen where the conflict was fought, honouring those who had died in the battle.

“We must be determined to protect Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," he said, also referring to the Taiwanese-controlled Matsu islands further up the Chinese coast. "We stand together with democracies. What is the reason for that? That is to show our determination to protect the country,” he added.

Lai also pledged to continue boosting Taiwan's military budget.

In 1958, China began shelling Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu, which sit geographically closer to China’s southern coast than they do Taiwan.

The campaign sent hundreds of thousands of shells raining down on the islands, while China's People's Liberation Army also fought naval and air battles with the army of the Kuomingtang.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

Taiwan's military still keeps a few active sites on the islands, although they are greatly reduced in number compared with the presence in the latter decades of the 20th century.