President Lai Ching-te lauded Taiwan-U.S. relations as rock solid, adding that cooperation has expanded under the current administration.
He made the remarks during an online interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, host of The New York Times DealBook Summit, airing Dec. 4, according to the Presidential Office. Among the issues discussed were cross-strait relations, national defense, semiconductors, the Taiwan-U.S. relationship and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Lai said that China’s military drills are increasing in frequency and intensity and have begun extending beyond the first island chain to the second, citing this escalation as a reason behind his recent announcement of an additional US$40 billion special defense budget.
As for Beijing’s plan to be capable of taking Taiwan by force by 2027, the president emphasized that Taiwan must consider the worst possible scenario while making the best possible preparations. Regardless of when China acts, Taiwan will protect itself, he said, taking the opportunity to thank G7 members, Japanese political leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump for reiterating the importance of Taiwan Strait peace.
Lai also expressed appreciation for decades of powerful support from the U.S. government and Congress. He added that he looked forward to resolving trade deficit issues during the latest round of tariff negotiations and deepening economic links.
In response to Trump’s goal of producing 40 to 50 percent of global chips in the U.S. with assistance from Taiwan, the president noted that the semiconductor industry is an ecosystem that requires global collaboration to develop its full potential. The Taiwanese government is supportive of domestic enterprises expanding operations in Europe, Japan, the U.S. or anywhere else to facilitate international progress and prosperity, he said. (POC-E)
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