Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said former U.S. President Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize if he successfully convinces Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon the use of force against Taiwan. Lai made the remarks during an interview on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a conservative U.S. radio program syndicated across over 400 stations.
Taiwan, claimed by China as its territory, remains heavily reliant on the United States for security support, even though the two do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. Trump, who returned to office earlier this year, has not yet announced any new arms deals with Taipei.
Why It Matters
Lai’s comments come at a delicate time for U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, as tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to rise. China has intensified military exercises around the island, expanding its presence in both the East China Sea and South China Sea, moves Taipei views as preparations for possible aggression.
By publicly appealing to Trump, Lai seeks to reinforce U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s defense and international standing while warning of the global consequences of Chinese expansionism. He argued that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would embolden Beijing’s power globally and “undermine the rules-based international order.”
Taiwan: Lai reaffirmed that Taiwan is “determined to safeguard its national security” and emphasized plans to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030.
United States: Washington remains Taiwan’s top security partner under the Taiwan Relations Act, which requires the U.S. to provide Taipei with means of self-defense. However, the U.S. still follows a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding military intervention.
China: Beijing has not yet responded to Lai’s comments but routinely brands him a “separatist” and rejects his calls for dialogue, insisting Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
What’s Next
Trump and Xi are expected to meet later this month during an Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit in South Korea. Observers will watch closely for any discussion on Taiwan’s future or military de-escalation.
For Lai, the remarks serve both as a strategic message to Beijing and a diplomatic nudge to Washington, reaffirming Taiwan’s alignment with the U.S. amid growing geopolitical uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific.
With information from Reuters.
