Taiwan’s Future: A Call for Self‑Determination

President Lai Ching‑te recently told a celebration in Taipei that the phrase “Taiwan independence” simply means the island is not part of China and that its people alone should decide what happens next. He repeated a stance his party has held since 1999: Taiwan is already a sovereign state called the Republic of China. The president said this point comes after former U. S. President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a meeting that worried many in Taiwan about whether the United States would support an independent Taiwan. Trump later said he does not want any country to push for independence because of U. S. backing, but the Chinese government still claims Taiwan as its territory and has warned it could use force if independence is pursued.During the event marking the Democratic Progressive Party’s 40th anniversary, Lai explained that Taiwan’s independence means it is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China. He noted that the Republic of China’s territory includes not only Taiwan but also Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu islands. The president said the Republic of China has lived in Taiwan for many decades and is now fully integrated with the island’s people. He added that whether the country is called Taiwan or the Republic of China, it represents 23 million residents across these islands. Lai did not comment on the U. S. –China meeting or answer reporters’ questions about Trump’s comments. He also mentioned that the United States, which has traditionally supported Taiwan, has not yet decided on additional arms sales to the island, a decision governed by U. S. law from 1979.