Taiwan's president used the National Day stage to welcome US-China talks while drawing a hard line on sovereignty — a measured signal for the region, but no softening toward Beijing.

• Lai Ching-te said China keeps pressing Taiwan with military moves and gray-zone pressure to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
• Taiwan is pushing defense reform and spending more on its military, framed as deterrence rather than provocation.
• Talks between Washington and Beijing are welcome if they lower the risk of conflict, but Taiwan insists its people's right to exist be respected.
• The sharpest line was a refusal to let World War II history be distorted — a direct push back on Beijing's claim that the postwar order hands it Taiwan.
• The speech leaned on allies, calling for Indo-Pacific democracies to work together to keep the current peace from being overturned.

Outlook: Expect Beijing to answer with rhetoric and likely more military activity around the island, while Taiwan keeps building out defense and courting regional partners.