President Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan is committed to working with Japan, the U.S. and other global democracies to prevent China from entering into military aggression, as he described Beijing’s threats as an international problem.
Lai made the remarks during an interview with Sho Sakurai, Nippon Television News Zero program host, and Masayo Watanabe, Yomiuri TV Shanghai bureau chief in Taipei City. The interview was broadcast May 19.
China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order and annexing Taiwan is the first step, Lai said. If Taiwan were invaded, international supply chains would be disrupted since 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, he added.
The president took the opportunity to thank global leaders for continuing to emphasize at international venues that cross-strait peace and stability is key to global security and prosperity. When democracies worldwide work together to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for China to bear, military conflict in the strait can be avoided, he said.
He added that Taiwan also promotes the Four Pillars of Peace action plan to strengthen its national defense, implement economic resilience and achieve peace through strength.
Lai went on to say that the country actively researches and develops drones to meet both national security and industrial development needs. Island nations such as Taiwan and Japan need to utilize smart technology in asymmetric national defense and unmanned vehicles, he added, anticipating collaboration with Japan in the sector.
As for the Taiwan-U.S. relationship, the president said the bilateral cooperation is going from strength to strength, citing remarks made by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, that the U.S.’ primary mission is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain regional stability and safeguard world peace. Lai further stressed that Taiwan must first be prepared to defend itself before asking friends and allies for assistance.
Lai noted that Taiwan and Japan have supported each other through seismic events like the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the southern Taiwan earthquake of 2016. He anticipated that the two would continue to face challenges together to pursue an ever-brighter future. (YCH-E)
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