The People’s Republic of China “has no right to represent Taiwan,” Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Thursday, delivering a forceful defense of the island’s democracy and of its integration in the international community on its National Day.

“As president, my mission is to ensure that our nation endures and progresses, and to unite the 23 million people of Taiwan,” he said in a speech in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. “I will also uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty.”...

Since he became president, Lai has become increasingly assertive with his language. Over the weekend, he stated in a speech that it would be “impossible” for the People’s Republic of China to become Taiwan’s motherland, because the island’s government is actually older.