Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-de remarked on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump should embrace the Nobel Peace Prize if he can persuade Chinese leader Xi Jinping to abandon any threats of military action against Taiwan.
The Chinese government reacted strongly, accusing Lai of compromising his integrity to win favor with the U.S.
During an appearance on the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show, Lai expressed hope for Trump’s continued support. He stated, “If President Trump convinces President Xi Jinping to permanently renounce military aggression against Taiwan, he will definitely become a Nobel Peace Prize winner.”
Lai advised Trump to be mindful that Xi is not only ramping up military drills in the Taiwan Strait but also bolstering military power in the East and South China Seas.
Lai further pointed out that the Chinese threat extends beyond just Taiwan’s potential annexation. He warned that, “Once Taiwan is annexed, China will enhance its ability to challenge the U.S. internationally, which undermines the rules-based global order.”
He added, “This will ultimately impact the interests of the U.S. mainland. Therefore, I hope President Trump will continue to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Lai committed to bolstering Taiwan’s military capabilities, increasing defense spending in response to Trump’s suggestion to elevate it to 10% of GDP.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office retorted in a statement, labeling Lai’s comments as mere “nonsense” and accused him of seeking unprincipled foreign support at Taiwan’s expense.
The statement from the Communist Party characterized Lai and his pro-independence colleagues as insignificant figures who would ultimately be discarded by history.
Furthermore, the Chinese government asserted its determination to thwart any moves for “Taiwan independence” and claimed a strong commitment to protecting national sovereignty and the welfare of the Taiwanese people.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense released findings indicating that China is intensifying military operations around Taiwan and innovating new equipment to refine its offensive capabilities.
The report also highlighted that China is leveraging AI-driven “hybrid warfare” to diminish public backing for Lai’s administration and its proposed increases in defense spending. Taiwan is prioritizing anti-drone strategies in military training and is eager to acquire advanced drone defense systems, given the importance of these technologies in potential aggressions from China.
