TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In the featured interview in Time Magazine's June 24 issue, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Taiwan is already independent but China's national policy is to annex the country.

On May 30, Lai sat down with Time for his first interview with the media since taking office on May 20. The full interview, which the Presidential Office released on Thursday (June 13), focused on leadership principles and asked the president about his views on international cooperation, cross-strait affairs, economic development, global supply chains, and societal issues.

Responding to the severing of diplomatic ties by Nauru in favor of China 48 hours after his election win, Lai said that while he wishes the former ally well and said such actions by China will not impact “Taiwan's status as a beacon of freedom and bastion of democracy in the world.” He said Taiwan is “not deeply worried” about losing diplomatic allies.

When asked to reply to criticism for stating in his inaugural speech that China and Taiwan are not subservient to each other, Lai said he was “not the first person to express this truth." He pointed out that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in her 2021 National Day Address that ”the ROC and PRC should not be subordinate to each other."

Lai said former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had also said the “ROC is a sovereign and independent state and that neither side of the strait is subordinate to the other.” Lai said this is consistent with Articles 2 and 3 of Taiwan's constitution.

He argued that because Taiwan has “our own citizens, land, sovereignty, and government for decades,” Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country according to international law. With this in mind, Lai says his goal during his tenure is to “bring the people of Taiwan together.”

When asked whether visits by Kuomintang leaders to China are beneficial, Lai said all political parties should understand that “China’s ambition to annex Taiwan is part of their national policy.” Lai said that only by coming together domestically and bolstering global ties “can we maintain our sovereignty, freedom, and democratic way of life.”

Regarding Taiwan's economic and trade relations with China and the world, Lai said Taiwan holds an advantage in the semiconductor industry and “has a responsibility to promote global prosperity and development.” He said Taiwan is involved in integrated circuit design, wafer manufacturing, and end-of-line packaging and testing, but the raw materials are distributed across other countries. 

For instance, components, equipment, and technology are sourced from the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands. He said this demonstrates that the industry runs on a global division of labor. 

In response to the worsening economic conditions in China, Lai believes that the Chinese government's restrictions on the free market have become tighter, and its approach to intellectual property rights has long failed to meet the international community's expectations. He said China's business environment has deteriorated. 

However, he emphasized that "a stable China leads to a safer Taiwan. A prosperous Taiwan can also bring about progress in China." He does not wish to see China's economy worsen or its society destabilize. 

“Taiwan’s new government is willing to assist China and advance peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait,” said Lai. 

Regarding the Democratic Progressive Party losing its majority in the legislature, Lai said the election outcome, with no single party holding a majority, was the "will of the people."  Lai said, “This provides an opportunity for each party to share their ideas and jointly bear the responsibility of serving the nation.”

Lai said his administration will focus on strengthening Taiwan's democracy, maintaining regional peace, and integrating the nation into the international community. He said this roadmap would benefit the country and people and believes the opposition parties will not oppose these policies. 

Lai emphasized that all political parties, whether in power or opposition, should adhere to the principles of putting people first and prioritizing national interests. He said no political party should “sacrifice national sovereignty for political gain.”

At the end of the interview, Lai mentioned his humble beginnings and said, “I had no expectation that one day I would sit here in the Presidential Office.” However, he attributed his success to Taiwan's democratization.