TAIPEI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom, and there must be respect for the right of Taiwan's people to exist, President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in his national day speech.
"Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke; rather, it is to deter war. And we are strengthening our self-defence not to abandon dialogue, but to ensure that dialogue can take place on the basis of parity and dignity," he added.
(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)
