Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has told Pope Leo that attempts to change Taiwan’s status through force or coercion cannot bring real peace.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that in a letter responding to the Pope’s World Day of Peace message, Lai said Taiwan remains committed to democracy and stability despite ongoing military and political pressure from authoritarian states, an implicit reference to China.

Lai reaffirmed that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future and rejected Beijing’s interpretation of World War II documents and a 1971 U.N. resolution used to support China’s sovereignty claims.

The Vatican remains one of Taiwan’s few diplomatic allies, even as it seeks improved ties with Beijing.