Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said former U.S. President Donald Trump would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize if he could persuade Chinese President Xi Jinping to give up the use of force against Taiwan. In an interview on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a conservative U.S. radio program aired on over 400 stations, Lai praised Trump’s previous comments that Xi had assured him China would not invade Taiwan during his presidency. Lai said, “We hope to continue receiving President Trump’s support. If he can convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce any military aggression toward Taiwan, he would undoubtedly merit the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Although the U.S. does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it remains the island’s most important international supporter. Since returning to office earlier this year, Trump has not announced new arms sales to Taiwan but may meet Xi later this month at an Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit in South Korea. Lai said that if he met Trump, he would urge him to pay close attention to Xi’s growing military activities. “Xi Jinping is not only conducting increasingly large-scale drills in the Taiwan Strait but also expanding forces in the East and South China Seas,” he said, according to a transcript from the presidential office.

Lai warned that China’s military ambitions reach beyond Taiwan. “Once Taiwan is annexed, China will gain greater strength to compete with the U.S. globally, weakening the rules-based international order. Ultimately, this will also threaten U.S. national interests,” he said. Lai urged Trump to continue supporting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Lai’s remarks. Due to the absence of formal relations, Taiwanese presidents do not directly communicate with or meet U.S. presidents. Lai also addressed U.S. concerns about Taiwan’s defense spending, stating that the island aims to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP by 2030. “Taiwan is fully committed to protecting its national security,” Lai said. “By defending itself, Taiwan also helps maintain regional peace and stability.”

The United States, bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, continues its policy of “strategic ambiguity,” leaving uncertain whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack. Lai reaffirmed that Beijing’s sovereignty claims are invalid, emphasizing that only Taiwan’s people can determine the island’s future. China, which labels Lai a “separatist,” has rejected his repeated calls for dialogue.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.