(MENAFN) Taiwan's leader, William Lai Ching-te, has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to press China to "permanently renounce the use of force" against Taiwan. In an exclusive interview with the US-based conservative podcast The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Lai emphasized the potential for Trump to earn a Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeds in persuading Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon military threats against the island.

“If he is able to convince” Xi, Lai stated, “President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Beijing considers Taiwan a “breakaway province” and has repeatedly signaled the possibility of using force to reunite with the island, which is separated from the mainland by the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan, for its part, has maintained its stance on independence since 1949.

Lai reiterated that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait “are not subordinate to each other,” asserting that “Taiwan is not a part” of China and emphasizing that “China does not have the right to invade Taiwan,” according to a transcript of the interview shared by Taiwan’s government.

His comments come amid reports suggesting that Beijing is pushing the U.S. for an official declaration against Taiwan’s independence.

As tensions rise, the world's two largest economies—China and the U.S.—are engaged in ongoing tariff discussions. A highly anticipated meeting between Xi and Trump is expected later this month in South Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Lai also criticized China’s recent military drills around Taiwan, accusing Beijing of “undermining peace and stability in the region.” He stressed that Taiwan's pursuit of democracy, freedom, and human rights should not be interpreted as a challenge to China.

“The fact that the Taiwanese people seek to protect their sovereignty and pursue a way of life based on democracy, freedom, and human rights should not be seen as a provocation against China,” Lai declared.

With Taiwan’s National Day celebrations approaching on October 10, Lai emphasized the nation's commitment to peace, despite rising threats from Beijing.

“Even though Taiwan is facing increasing threats from China, Taiwan has not given up on seeking peace and mutual prosperity across the strait,” Lai stressed. “We understand that peace is priceless and that there are no winners in war.”

“Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential elements of global security and prosperity,” he added. “Our pursuit of peace is an ideal, not a fantasy. We believe that to achieve peace, there must be strength.”

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