Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
Friday's visit to the Penghu islands in the strait separating Taiwan and mainland China comes as Beijing has ramped up military and political pressure on Taipei in recent years.
"I want to stress that the government will back all of you," Lai told sailors aboard the warship.
Penghu's location in the Taiwan Strait means it is likely to be on the front line of any potential invasion by China.
In July, Taiwan's military conducted a scaled-down live-fire drill during a typhoon in Penghu as part of its biggest annual "Han Kuang" wargames to simulate fighting enemy forces on its beaches.
Lai later had lunch with the troops at a navy camp stadium, in a tradition ahead of the upcoming Mid-Autum Festival.
"You are all an important force in safeguarding national security. I would like to thank you for your daily commitment," Lai told the crowd.
"Because all of you stick to your posts, the people can enjoy the holiday with peace of mind. The government will also have the troops' back".
Lai also pledged to improve the living conditions in the camps as well as weapons and equipments.
Lai has been labelled a "dangerous separatist" by China for his staunch defence of Taiwan's sovereignty, and Beijing conducted large-scale military drills around the island just days after his inauguration.
Taiwan's military has been reporting near-daily sightings of Chinese warships around its waters, as well as sorties by fighter jets and drones around the island.
The defence ministry said on Friday that 19 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels and two official ships were detected in a 24-hour window ending at 6:00 am (2200 GMT Thursday).
China sentences Taiwanese man to 9 years for 'separatism'
Beijing (AFP) Sept 6, 2024 -
A Chinese court has sentenced a Taiwanese politician who supports the island's independence to nine years in jail for "separatism", an official told state media on Friday.
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary.
The People's Court of Wenzhou in eastern China sentenced Yang Chih-yuan on August 26 to nine years in prison on secession charges, Chen Binhua, the spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Bureau, said on state broadcaster CCTV.
Yang is the leader of a minor political party advocating for Taiwan's formal independence and once ran unsuccessfully for the democratic island's parliament, according to Taiwanese media.
He was arrested in China in 2022.
Chen said Yang had "conspired for the creation of a Taiwan state" in order to "undermine national unity" between 2008 and 2020.
He said Yang's conviction and sentencing were justified because he had played a "key role" in several organisations and because of the "malicious nature" of his activism.
Taiwan has been critical of Yang's treatment by China and condemned the accusations when he was charged in April as a rights violation meant to "create fear".
Beijing published judicial guidelines in June on criminal punishments for supporters of Taiwanese independence, including the death penalty for "particularly serious" cases involving "diehard" advocates.
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