Tokyo, Oct. 6 (CNA) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has called for more “security cooperation” with Japan to better ensure the stability of the region as it faces an increasingly assertive China.
Lai, who is also Taiwan’s vice president, said in an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK on Thursday that Taiwan and Japan should “work together in every possible way” as they are both on the frontline of “Chinese threats.”
China’s efforts to expand its influence have led to tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Lai said, adding that he looked forward to seeing Taiwan and Japan engage in necessary and plausible security cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the region.
The vice president, however, did not elaborate on what he thinks such cooperation should entail.
But he went so far as to say that a Chinese annexation of Taiwan would have a heavy toll on Japan, given the country’s proximity to the Taiwan Strait.
In the face of China’s military threats, Taiwan should be prepared for the worst scenario, Lai said.
He emphasized the need for Taiwan to continue boosting its defense capability while also calling for unity among democratic countries, saying this approach would reduce the risk of China launching an invasion of Taiwan.
At the same time, Lai pledged to direct his attention to preventing war and promoting cross-strait stability, noting that he was open to engaging in dialogue with China’s leader Xi Jinping (習近平) provided that both parties show respect for one another and speak as equals.
Such talks should not include Taipei ceding the country’s sovereignty to Beijing, Lai said, adding Taiwan’s sovereignty and the democratic system were not up for discussion.
Lai’s talks with NHK — his first interview with Japanese media after being nominated by the ruling DDP to run for president in January next year — reflected his pledge to continue President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) policy regarding China.
Over the past seven years, the Tsai administration has tried to strengthen Taiwan’s defense and has sought alliances with other democracies to deter China.
The president has also expressed, on multiple occasions, her willingness to engage in dialogue with Xi, but so far that has failed to come to fruition.
Security matters aside, Lai also expressed hope for the development of a “comprehensive” relationship with Japan during the interview.
In particular, the DPP candidate pointed out tourism, trade and investment, and hydrogen energy as potential areas for collaboration.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, on Thursday, Lai said the presidential election for Taiwan can be characterized as a choice between democracy and authoritarianism rather than one between war and peace.
Taiwan must decide whether to continue on the path of democracy, further strengthening Taiwan, or to accept a “one China” principle and revert to the old path of authoritarianism, Lai said, according to the transcript of the interview provided by the DPP.
Lai said the three main opposition candidates — the Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and independent Terry Gou (郭台銘) — were agreeable to China’s “one China” principle, either directly or indirectly.
The “one China” principle asserted by China, the main element of which being Taiwan is a part of China, is not aligned with Taiwan’s mainstream public opinion, Lai noted.
Lai expressed his willingness to engage with China as long as it is based on equality and dignity, adding that the two sides should cooperate with each other in coping with common challenges, such as natural disasters and infectious diseases.
Additionally, Lai hoped Japan and Taiwan could strengthen their regional security cooperation because doing so would not only benefit Japan’s security but also contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region.
If Taiwan were to be invaded and annexed by China, with the Taiwan Strait becoming China’s internal waters, it would inevitably pose a threat to Japan, Lai said.
