President Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan is committed to leveraging its advantages in production and manufacturing to connect democracies and establish a global non-red semiconductor supply chain to ensure future development and prosperity.
Lai made the remarks during an interview with Nikkei Asia at the Presidential Office in Taipei City for a report published May 13 in the Japanese newspaper.
The free economy headed by the Western world over the past few decades is now jeopardized by China’s unfair trade practices, the president said, citing Beijing’s counterfeiting, intellectual property infringement and government subsidies that facilitate the dumping of low-priced goods worldwide. He added that Taiwan will continue observing the U.S.’ recent willingness to address the issue and offer assistance if necessary.
Lai went on to underscore that Taiwan faces a direct threat from China because Beijing’s ambition to annex the country has never wavered. Taiwan’s choice to defend its democracy and sovereignty is clear, he added, noting that the country’s Four Pillars of Peace action plan encompasses strengthening its self-defense capabilities and economic resilience to deter China from making the wrong judgment.
The president said that he has made 17 proposals, including resuming military trials, to counter China’s united front infiltration and subversion in Taiwan.
Regarding the role of regional neighbors in the changing international landscape, Lai expressed his hope that Japan can take a leading position and urged the East Asian country to pursue a bilateral trade deal with Taiwan and to continue to support its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
As for the 32 percent tariff imposed by the U.S. on Taiwan goods, Lai stressed that Taiwan is seeking a reduction through negotiations and vowed to step up procurement and investments in the U.S., to cut trade barriers and to tackle the laundering of product origins. The country will start talks from the proposal of zero tariffs and seek to establish a bilateral trade agreement, he said, suggesting that Taiwan can help Washington achieve its artificial intelligence goals, which would further help integrate the country’s industries into the U.S. economic structure.
Likewise, Lai said that Taiwan aims to work with partners worldwide. Although he is fortifying Taiwan against Beijing, the president added that as long as there is parity, dignity, exchange and cooperation, the country will always choose dialogue over confrontation and exchange over containment. (YCH-E)
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