The Taiwan Test: TIME’s cover story

On June 14 issue, TIME’s cover story was “The Taiwan Test”.   TIME correspondent Charlie Campbell interviewed Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te in the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on May 30.   For over an hour, Lai talked candidly about Taiwan’s relations with the People’s Republic, his attempts to strengthen ties with the U.S., geopolitical frictions over trade and technology, as well as how his modest upbringing influences his values.  According to the news reports, President Lai told Campbell that the new government is willing to assist China and advance peace and prosperity.   Taiwan wishes for a stable and prosperous China because it would help maintain peace and stability in the region.   Regarding China’s courting of the global south to get diplomatic support for its so-called  “reunification” of Taiwan, Lai said “All nations should respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.  The will of Taiwanese “should not be subject to decisions made by a majority or show of hands” in the international arena.”  Regarding Beijing’s continued refusal to engage with Taipei, Lai said he would continue to uphold former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) “four commitments.”  Lai emphasized that  Chinese President Xi Jinping should understand that initiating a Taiwan Strait conflict and disrupting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region “will not be accepted by the international community.”   Asked to comment on the Democratic Progressive Party’s loss of its majority in the legislature, he expressed optimism, he said: “I remain fully confident about the future development of Taiwan.”