TAIPEI -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday rejected China's 'one country, two systems' model, calling for the need for the self-ruled island to stand up to Beijing's growing regional hegemony.
"We are witnessing China's rise and expansion, as they challenge free, democratic values and the global order through a combination of authoritarianism, nationalism, and economic might," Tsai said in a speech to mark Taiwan's national day. "As the strategic forefront of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan has become the first line of defense for democratic values."
