President Lai Ching-te firmly declared on Sunday that Taiwan is a country. He made this statement while launching his “Ten Lectures on National Unity” speaking tour at a Rotary International Taiwan event. From the start, Lai made it clear that Taiwan’s national status does not depend on United Nations membership. To support his argument, Lai described the four elements that define a country: people, territory, government, and sovereignty. According to him, Taiwan meets all these conditions. It has 23 million people, controls its own land, governs itself democratically, and maintains national defense.
Furthermore, Lai emphasized Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. Since 1996, Taiwanese voters have chosen their president every four years through free and fair elections. Notably, past leaders include Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, Ma Ying-jeou, and Tsai Ing-wen. Therefore, Lai argued, Taiwan is a country in every practical and legal sense. In addition, he criticized China’s repeated use of UN Resolution 2758. He stated that Beijing misrepresents the resolution to advance its “one China” principle. However, Lai clarified that the resolution only acknowledged Beijing as China’s UN representative. It did not discuss Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Moreover, Lai pointed out that international support for Taiwan is growing. For example, the US State Department recently confirmed that Resolution 2758 does not address Taiwan’s status. Likewise, lawmakers in Australia, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, and the European Parliament have backed this view. Lai also rejected the idea that UN membership defines a nation. Historically, many countries existed long before joining the United Nations. Thus, Taiwan’s lack of UN representation does not negate its sovereignty.
Beyond politics, Lai highlighted Taiwan’s deep cultural roots. Around 4000 BCE, Austronesian languages began in Taiwan. These languages later spread to the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and as far as New Zealand. Therefore, Taiwan holds a central place in regional history. In conclusion, Lai strongly reaffirmed that Taiwan is a country. Its people, democracy, and history all support this reality. Despite China’s claims, Taiwan continues to define its own identity and future.
