Lai Ching-te

Why Would Lai Claim that Trump Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for Resolving Cross-Strait Tensions?

Brian Hioe
In a recent interview, President Lai Ching-te raised eyebrows with a claim that US president Donald Trump would “surely win the Nobel Peace Prize” if he were able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to renounce the use of force against Taiwan. The claim was made during an interview with US radio host Buck Sexton of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show"...
America and the Asia PacificCross StraitEnglishInternationalOctober 2025Regional Tensions6 min read

“How Taiwan Lost Trump” Proves a MAGA Fever Dream That Does Not Reflect The Realities of Trumpism

Brian Hioe
A recent Substack post by Christian Whiton, an advisor to the Bush and Trump administrations, proves an odd fever dream about Taiwan. Even if not framed in such terms, the gist of Whiton’s argument about Taiwan is, in effect, that the Trump administration’s recent actions directed toward Taiwan are driven by a lack of faith in Taiwan because of its embrace of the woke Left...
America and the Asia PacificAugust 2025EnglishInternationalPolitics7 min read

KMT Calls for Recall of Lai Ching-te At Rally

Brian Hioe
The KMT claimed 250,000 in attendance at a rally against DPP recalls held yesterday on Ketagalan Boulevard. Aerial photographs do not seem to correspond to this claim, but either way, the pan-Blue camp was out in force against the DPP in what was a de facto campaign rally for the pan-Blue camp. Both the KMT and its smaller ally party, the TPP, were present...
April 2025EnglishPoliticsSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements6 min read

Lai Ching-te Emphasizes Dialogue, Defense of the Constitution in New Year’s Speech

Brian Hioe
In his New Year's address, President Lai Ching-te touted Taiwan’s accomplishments on the international stage, such as the Olympics victories in badminton by Wang Chi-lin and Lee Yang, as well as in boxing by Lin Yu-ting. Lai also brought up Yang Shuang-zi’s Taiwan Travelogue winning best work in translation at the United States National Book Award, as translated by King Lin. Likewise, Lai touted Taiwan’s economic growth, including in high-tech industries, and increases in wages...
EnglishJanuary 2025Politics5 min read