Taiwan wants political status quo not China’s path, says president

'We will do our utmost to prevent the status quo from being unilaterally altered,' Ms Tsai said.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei. Picture: Chiang Ying-ying/AP

Taiwan’s president has called for the continuation of the political status quo in a forthright speech which acknowledged rising pressure from China.

Tsai Ing-wen also firmly rejected Chinese military coercion, a stance driven home by a rare demonstration of Taiwan’s defence capabilities in a parade on its National Day.