Taipei: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has firmly dismissed the idea of conducting dialogue with China through Taiwan’s opposition parties, citing a fundamental divergence in positions between them and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Focus Taiwan reported.
In an interview with the Mindi World News YouTube channel, Lai said that parties like the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have historically aligned closer with Beijing’s “One China Principle”, weakening Taiwan’s sovereignty narrative.
Contrasting Stances on “One China”
Lai highlighted the KMT’s support for the 1992 Consensus, which Beijing sees as a stepping stone toward unification, even though the KMT interprets it as allowing “different interpretations” of what “One China” means.
He also referenced Ko Wen-je, former Taipei mayor and TPP founder, who previously described China and Taiwan as “one family”, echoing Chinese political rhetoric. Ko resigned as party chairman in December 2024 amid corruption allegations.
By contrast, Lai reiterated the DPP’s stance: Taiwan and China are separate entities, and only Taiwan’s 23 million citizens have the right to decide the island’s future.
Peace Through Strength and Principles
Lai denounced China’s increasing military pressure and psychological warfare, warning that such actions threaten both regional stability and the rules-based international order.
To counter Beijing’s pressure, Lai reaffirmed his “Four Pillars of Peace”:
- Strengthening national defense
- Building economic resilience
- Deepening ties with democratic allies
- Upholding stable leadership principles in cross-strait affairs
While he emphasized that Taiwan is open to peaceful dialogue, Lai made clear it must be based on equality and mutual respect—an approach that mirrors that of his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, though Beijing has so far rejected it.
Geopolitical and Trade Outlook
Lai criticized China’s current strategy as ineffective and potentially counterproductive, especially amid growing US focus on the Indo-Pacific.
On trade, he revealed that Taiwan is in ongoing talks with the United States to limit new reciprocal tariffs to no more than 10%, ensuring Taiwan’s economic interests remain protected.