If Trump convinces China to abandon force against Taiwan he deserves Nobel prize, Taiwan president says

In an interview on the conservative U.S. radio show The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Lai emphasized:

“If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Trump could meet Xi during a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders in South Korea later this month.

Lai, during his appearance this week on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, which is broadcast on over 400 talk radio stations, referenced remarks made by Trump in August, where he said that Xi had informed him that China would refrain from invading Taiwan while he held the presidency of the United States.

The comment comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with China conducting frequent military drills and asserting its claim over the self-governed island.

Trump has said that he is worthy of the recognition awarded to four of his predecessors in the White House. The announcement of this year’s prize will take place in Norway on Friday.

When asked what advice he would offer the U.S. president if they were to meet, Lai indicated that he would suggest Trump focus on Xi’s behaviors.

“I would advise him to pay particular attention to the fact that Xi Jinping is not only conducting increasingly large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait but is also expanding military forces in the East China Sea and South China Sea,” Lai said, according to a transcript of his remarks released by the presidential office on Tuesday.

A few hours following the release of the transcript, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that it had detected another increase in Chinese military activities, with 23 military aircraft and drones conducting a "joint combat readiness patrol" around the island alongside Chinese warships.

Lai said that China’s escalating military operations further away from its own coastline pose a challenge not only for Taiwan.

"The challenge goes beyond simply annexing Taiwan. Once Taiwan is annexed, China will possess enhanced capabilities to compete with the United States on the global stage, thereby undermining the rules-based international order," he remarked.

"In the end, this will also affect U.S. interests at home. Hence, I hope President Trump will persist in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

Due to the absence of formal diplomatic relations, Taiwanese presidents do not engage in direct communication or meetings with U.S. presidents.

Taiwan, in collaboration with significant Western allies, has tried to address Washington’s apprehensions regarding its defense spending—Lai has established a goal for defense expenditure to reach 5% of gross domestic product by the year 2030.

"I will convey to them that Taiwan is fully committed to protecting its national security," Lai said during the show when questioned about how he would demonstrate to the United States the island’s determination to defend itself.

The United States, which is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with the necessary means for self-defense, has consistently adhered to a policy of "strategic ambiguity," refraining from clarifying whether it would take military action in response to a Chinese assault on Taiwan.

🛡️ Lai reiterated Taiwan’s stance:

- Taiwan is not part of the PRC, and China has no right to invade.

- Taiwan seeks peace and mutual prosperity, not provocation.

- He outlined Taiwan’s “Four Pillars of Peace” strategy, including defense spending increases and global economic partnerships.

This statement not only underscores Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach but also places Trump in a unique spotlight as a potential peace broker in one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints.