1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Taiwan Is Vice president Elai chang Da has seeking to 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: reassure voters and the international community that he is a 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: steady set of hands as he campaigns to become the 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: next leader of the self governed island. The leading presidential 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: candidate says he wants peace in the Taiwan Strait and 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: blames Beijing for escalating tensions. Lai sat down with Bloomberg 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: for his first interview with international media since becoming vice president, 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: and he spoke exclusively to Bloomberg's Joel Weber. 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 2: Do the Taiwanese people want formal independence? And do you 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 2: want formal independence? 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 3: Omen and Jesus also wait the oos. 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 4: We must abide by the truth, which is what I 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 4: mean by pragmatism. It is that Taiwan is already a sovereign, 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 4: independent country called the Republic of China. It's not part 15 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 4: of the People's Republic of China. The ROC and PRC 16 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 4: are not subordinate to one another. It is not necessary 17 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 4: to declare independence in Weissiam. 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: What is your roadmap to formal independence. 19 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 3: Anyway? Well, it's just as the Thaihi Shenzan. 20 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 4: My responsibility is to maintain the status quo in the 21 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 4: Taiwan Strait while protecting Taiwan and maintaining democracy, peace and prosperity. 22 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 4: So no such framework exists. We must work to maintain 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 4: the peaceful status quo because Taiwan is already a sovereign country. 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: China keeps pushing on the status quo, and it keeps pushing. 25 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: It's fire a missile over Taiwan's cross the median line 26 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: in the Taiwan Street, and it simulated a naval blockhead. 27 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 2: What is your red line? 28 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 3: Thaii shehinzwang? 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 4: The Chinsa jinsong increased tensions impacting the status quo in 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 4: the Taiwan Strait have not originated from Taiwan. They are 31 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 4: due to China's growing assertiveness. China not only seeks to 32 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 4: annex Taiwan, it also hopes to change the international rules 33 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 4: based order. Under these circle stances, we must be clear 34 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 4: Taiwan's security is of international concern. Peace and stability in 35 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 4: the Taiwan Strait is aligned with the international interest, So 36 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 4: she donhingo. Because challenges in the Taiwan Strait are a 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 4: global concern, a global red line will also be Taiwan's 38 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 4: red line, and my personal red line. 39 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: In Ukraine, President Zelenski rose to meet the challenge when 40 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: Russia invaded. What did you personally learn from his leadership? 41 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 4: Minzusas democracy is a universal value irrespective of borders. President 42 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 4: Zelenski rallied his people to resist Russia's invasion. They are 43 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 4: protecting not only their country, their land, and their people. 44 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 4: They are also fighting on behalf of our democratic values. 45 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 3: I'd also say how Chino Colagne. 46 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,119 Speaker 4: Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has led us to see 47 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 4: that dictatorship are inherently unpredictable. We must make the best 48 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 4: preparations for a worst case scenario. 49 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 3: And any way. 50 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 4: We also see that President Zelenski's courage, as well as 51 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 4: the support they sought internationally, all contributed to Ukraine's resistance 52 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 4: against the Russian invasion. We have a deep understanding that 53 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 4: we must avoid war in the Taiwan Strait. There are 54 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 4: no winners in war. Peace is priceless. From the war 55 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 4: in Ukraine, we see that we must do all we 56 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 4: can to avoid war in the Taiwan Straitens. 57 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 2: You've said provocative things in the past. 58 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 3: That will be of interest in Washington. How have you changed? 59 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: Is Tetong and. 60 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 4: I have been part of President Sai's National Security Team. 61 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 4: Together with the US government, we have responsible and clear 62 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 4: channels of communication. We are able to share information effectively, 63 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 4: understand where the issues are, and cooperate in This election 64 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 4: is about choosing between two roads. One way is to 65 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 4: continue engaging and cooperating closely with the international community while 66 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 4: deepening our democracy. The other choice is to accept the 67 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 4: one China principle and stand together with China. I believe 68 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 4: the US will continue to support us on the first path. 69 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 3: One means how confident are you that the US will 70 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: have Taiwan's back should the situation with China escalate? I 71 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 3: mean will so Taiwanda hupong il. 72 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 4: The US is a close friend of Taiwan. We are 73 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 4: partners in a number of areas, from politics, the economy, 74 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 4: human rights, to our society. 75 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: In with Taiwan the Panchangunti. 76 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 4: Because Taiwan's security challenges are a global concern, the upkeep 77 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 4: of peace and stability in both the Taiwan Straight and 78 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 4: the Indo Pacific region fulfills the common interests of the 79 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 4: international community. That all democracies in the world, including the US, 80 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 4: would be aware of how to respond if such a 81 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 4: scenario were to take place. 82 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: If the US wants TSMC to build more chip babs 83 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: in the US, would you. 84 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: Stop it in weed BANDALKI. 85 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 4: The semiconductor industry is not just made up of one 86 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 4: or two fabs. There is an entire ecosystem. TSMC's advanced 87 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 4: processes are located here in Taiwan. Their base is here 88 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 4: in Taiwan. So if they choose to set up operations 89 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 4: in the US or other countries, this is an expansion 90 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 4: of Taiwan's economic power. This is also part of the 91 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 4: restructuring of global supply chains. I would take these developments positively. 92 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 2: What do you want the world to know about you 93 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: as a person, so wazieger di Jing. 94 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 4: I am a rational and steady leader. I know how 95 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 4: we can respond to the challenges we face as a country. 96 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 4: I also understand that the serious and complex nature of 97 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 4: issues in the Taiwan Strait call for ration and steady leadership. 98 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 4: This will enable our country to move forward amid changing 99 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 4: geopolitical circumstances. 100 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: That was Taiwan's Vice President Elai Shengta speaking exclusively with 101 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: Bloomberg's Joel Weber. From more other conversation, check out Bloomberg's 102 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: Big Take podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. You 103 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: can also find more in the print edition of Bloomberg 104 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: BusinessWeek magazine, available on newsstands on Friday.