It framed Lai’s speech as a new level of “provocation” even though the speech was more restrained than Lai’s inaugural address. It framed Lai’s speech as a new level of “provocation” even though the speech was more restrained than Lai’s inaugural address. [3]The PRC's response to Lai’s speech did not acknowledge any de-escalation in Lai’s rhetoric and instead framed the speech as a serious and deliberate provocation of Beijing. [12]The PRC framed Lai’s speech as an “escalation” likely to justify increased military coercion against Taiwan. The TAO also issued harsher rhetoric about Lai’s speech on October 15 to retroactively justify the scope of Joint Sword 2024B.

Source: Washington Post October 18, 2024 15:52 UTC