Taipei, Taiwan – Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has said that United States President Donald Trump deserves to receive the Nobel Peace Prize if he can successfully persuade Chinese President Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of military force against Taiwan. Lai’s remarks come amid growing tensions between Taipei and Beijing, as fears of a potential military confrontation continue to unsettle the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a popular conservative radio programme aired across more than 400 stations in the United States, President Lai expressed optimism about Trump’s potential role in advancing peace and stability in the region. He noted that Taiwan values its long-standing relationship with the United States and hopes to continue receiving strong support from Washington in the face of China’s military posturing.
“We hope to continue receiving President Trump’s support,” Lai said during the interview. “Should President Trump persuade Xi Jinping to permanently abandon any military aggression against Taiwan, President Trump would undoubtedly be a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.”
Lai’s comments come just weeks before Trump’s anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place later this month during a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in South Korea. The meeting, observers say, could present a critical opportunity for both leaders to address the growing diplomatic and military tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the broader South China Sea region.
The Taiwanese president also referenced Trump’s earlier remarks made in August, when he claimed Xi had personally assured him that China would not invade Taiwan during his presidency. “President Trump mentioned that Xi gave him assurances, and we hope such commitments can evolve into a lasting pledge of peace,” Lai added.
Although the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it remains the island’s most important international partner and defense ally. The US continues to supply Taipei with military support and advanced defense systems. However, since Trump took office earlier this year, no new arms deals have yet been announced.
When asked what advice he would offer President Trump if they were to meet, Lai said he would urge the American leader to be cautious of Xi’s military ambitions. “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,” he stated.
According to a transcript released by Taiwan’s Presidential Office on Tuesday, Lai emphasized that Beijing’s growing military activities pose a serious threat not only to Taiwan’s sovereignty but also to global peace and regional stability. “China’s military expansion undermines the rules-based international order,” Lai said. “Any effort by the United States to convince Beijing to de-escalate should be seen as a significant step towards lasting peace.”
Political analysts have described Lai’s statement as a strategic diplomatic move aimed at strengthening ties with the Trump administration and reaffirming Taiwan’s position as a democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific. Some also view it as a subtle endorsement of Trump’s foreign policy approach, particularly as the US leader continues to position himself as a global peace negotiator.
Trump, who has long expressed his belief that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, may view Lai’s remarks as politically beneficial. Four of his predecessors—Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama—have received the award for their contributions to peace and diplomacy.
In the past, Trump has claimed that his efforts to facilitate peace on the Korean Peninsula and the signing of the Abraham Accords in the Middle East qualify him for similar recognition. Lai’s public endorsement could therefore strengthen Trump’s international standing ahead of the announcement of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Norway on Friday.
In Taiwan, Lai’s comments have generated mixed reactions. His supporters have praised the statement as a diplomatic masterstroke that keeps Taiwan in the global spotlight while reinforcing its alliance with the United States. Critics, however, have argued that linking Taiwan’s national security to Trump’s personal ambitions risks politicizing a sensitive security issue.
Despite differing opinions, Lai’s remarks underscore the delicate balance that Taiwan must maintain as it navigates rising tensions between the world’s two major powers. With China increasing its military pressure through frequent airspace incursions and naval exercises near Taiwan, the island nation continues to strengthen its defense capabilities and deepen partnerships with like-minded allies.
International observers say the upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi will be closely watched as a test of both leaders’ diplomatic skills. If Trump succeeds in securing a firm commitment from Beijing to abandon any military aggression against Taiwan, it could represent a major breakthrough in East Asian diplomacy—and perhaps lend weight to Lai’s assertion that such an achievement would indeed be worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.
As the world awaits further developments, Lai’s message stands as both a hopeful appeal and a powerful reminder of the fragile peace that defines the region. Whether Trump can turn this moment into a lasting diplomatic victory remains uncertain, but the pursuit of peace—no matter how ambitious—continues to resonate as a goal worth striving for.
(Reported by Africa Live News – 2025)
