Taipei: In the midst of heightened tensions with China, which has increased military pressure on the democratically-governed island, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Saturday to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan won't provoke and won't give in to Chinese pressure, Tsai declared in a speech marking her administration's seventh anniversary at the presidential office in Taipei.

Since Tsai assumed office in 2016, China, which claims Taiwan as its own and has threatened to seize control of the island if necessary, has increased diplomatic and military pressure to compel Taiwan to recognise Chinese sovereignty.

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Tsai has requested talks, but Beijing has rejected her requests because they see her as a separatist. Tsai has repeatedly vowed to stand up for Taiwan's democracy and freedom.

There is no room for war. "Neither side can use unilateral, violent means to change the status quo," Tsai said. "The consensus for the world and Taiwan is to maintain the status quo of peace and stability."

Taiwan is not a risk taker, despite being surrounded by risks. Taiwan will stand with democratic nations and communities around the world to jointly defuse the risks because we are a responsible risk manager, she said.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, said on Friday that the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy countries agreed they were looking for a peaceful solution to the issues on Taiwan.

Tsai stated that Taiwanese officials are in talks with US President Joe Biden's administration about sending $500 million in weapons assistance to Taiwan, adding that the assistance was intended to address weapon deliveries that had been delayed as a result of COVID-19.

She emphasised Taiwan's supply's significance for the world. China, which produces the majority of the world's cutting-edge semiconductor chips, has vowed to keep Taiwan as the home of the most cutting-edge chip technologies and R&D facilities.

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China tensions are expected to dominate the campaign agenda in Taiwan as it prepares for a crucial presidential election in the middle of January.