Mr Lai’s speech took place a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 9 Victory Day parade, attended by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Mr Lai, 64, the son of a coal miner and a trained physician, took over from Tsai Ing-wen, 67.
The Taiwanese leader was honoured with the prestigious Global Leadership Award for her exceptional “determination to resist tyranny”.
China opposes any official contact of foreign states with Taiwan and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island nation indisputable.
China’s military said it had completed various tasks around Taiwan but would conduct regular patrols
The Chinese military kicked off major air and sea drills in the waters surrounding Taiwan shortly after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ended a visit to the island.
