Tsai has faced increasing hostility from China since she won election early last year, with China stepping up military drills around Taiwan.
China suspects Tsai, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, wants to push for the self-ruled island's formal independence, a red line for Beijing, which considers Taiwan a wayward province and sacred Chinese territory, Reuters reported.
"China's military activities don't only impact the situation in the Taiwan Strait, but also in all of East Asia ... This is not a problem being faced alone by Taiwan," Tsai told reporters.
"All countries in this region who want to see peace and stability, have a consensus ... and China can't ignore this, that cross strait issues absolutely can't be resolved through military force but through peaceful means," Tsai said during a news conference on a stage flanked by two models of fighter jets.
Tsai, however, said her island would not be passive in the face of a more hawkish China.
"Over the past year, the morale of our military is steadily improving, support for our military is also continuously increasing. This is the most gratifying thing since I've become president. I hereby solemnly announce that our annual defense budget will grow steadily within a reasonable range."
Taiwan's defense ministry warned in a white paper this week that China's military threat was growing by the day, with the Chinese air force carrying out 16 rounds of exercises close to Taiwan over the past year or so.
Beijing says the drills are routine and that Taiwan had better get used to them.
(Tasnim)
29/12/17
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