TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday urged Taiwan to focus on economic cooperation with fellow democracies rather than rely on China, per Reuters.

Speaking at a news conference on the US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, Lai highlighted cooperation with the US in AI and critical minerals. Senior officials last week discussed economic security and signed the Pax Silica Declaration, aimed at securing AI and chip supply chains amid Beijing’s growing influence.

“Taiwan is on the right economic path and is striding confidently onto the world stage,” Lai said, while also highlighting economic benefits for Taiwan and the US.

Lai’s remarks came as KMT Deputy Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) is in Beijing for a think tank exchange with the CCP, focused on nonpolitical issues such as AI and tourism. The KMT delegation consists of 40 experts and scholars.

Lai noted the opposition had its own positions, contrasting Taiwan’s slower economic growth under the previous KMT government with faster growth since the DPP took office in 2016.

“Do we want to continue collaborating with the US, Japan, Europe and other allied nations, or again lock ourselves into China?” Lai asked. He said working with democracies provides more sustainable opportunities than relying on Beijing.

China refuses to engage directly with Lai, calling him a “separatist.” Lai reiterated that he remains open to dialogue with Beijing but only on the basis of parity and equality.