TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday (June 14) praised President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) recent reaffirmation of Taiwan's sovereignty during an interview with Time Magazine. Premier Cho underscored President Lai's commitment to democracy, peace, prosperity, and goodwill, extending an invitation for Chinese leaders to engage reciprocally.
He emphasized the need for increased exchanges and collaborative efforts between Taiwan and China to foster mutual development. "We will continue to strive for improvement," Cho said. In the interview, President Lai emphasized the critical role of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for global security and prosperity.
Reflecting on his inauguration, Lai reiterated his dedication to the "Four Commitments" policy established by his predecessor, former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) — maintaining dignity, the status quo, and fulfilling Taiwan's responsibilities.
Furthermore, he addressed the separate statuses of the Republic of China, Taiwan (中華民國), and the People's Republic of China (中華人民共和國), echoing sentiments previously expressed by former Presidents Tsai and Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
However, Chinese scholars criticized Lai's remarks as lacking goodwill, labeling the interview a "missed opportunity" for enhancing dialogue.