Taiwanese President: Trump deserves Nobel prize if he stops China using force

A few hours after the transcript’s release, Taiwan’s defence ministry reported another spike in Chinese military activity, with twenty-three aircraft and drones carrying out a “joint combat readiness patrol” around the island alongside Chinese warships.

Lai said China’s growing military reach is not only a challenge for Taiwan.

“The challenge extends beyond merely annexing Taiwan. Once Taiwan is annexed, China will gain greater strength to compete with the United States on the international stage, undermining the rules-based international order,” he said.

“Ultimately, this will also impact US homeland interests. Therefore, I hope President Trump will continue to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.