taipei president tsai ing-wen vow tuesday defend taiwan freedom democracy amid grow pressure giant neighbor china use national day speech warn self-ruled island would bow pressure china consider proudly democratic taiwan wayward province never renounce use force bring island control relations beijing deteriorate sharply since tsai lead pro-independence democratic progressive party take office last year china suspect want push island formal independence red line beijing china cut regular dialogue mechanism taiwan ramp military drill around island step international pressure limit taiwan diplomatic footprint tsai pledge maintain peace china say government still seek breakthroughs tie beijing promise consistent stable policies need remember democracy freedom right obtain taiwan people countless efforts tsai say therefore need use power defend taiwan democratic freedom value lifestyle say tsai speech come week china hold twice-a-decade communist party congress president xi jinping take robust approach territorial dispute east south china seas cement grip power government continue rattle beijing newly appoint premier william lai tell parliament last month political worker advocate taiwan independence however tsai also seek give beijing roadmap goodwill extend turn could give chance reciprocate rein independence-leaning hardliners island offer great goodwill say 20-minute address repeatedly say goodwill change promise change walk old path confrontation bow pressure tsai say respond tsai speech china taiwan affairs office say taiwan clearly state taiwan mainland china belong one china one china principle uphold taiwan independence oppose peaceful stable development relations across taiwan strait say statement carry official xinhua news agency tsai reiterate importance implement island new southbound policy forge close tie countries region say taiwan seek find new position international community face rapid change asia-pacific region taiwan already prepare play even important role region prosperity stability say taiwan president pledge defend freedoms despite china pressure