In a recent interview with NHK, Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te called on the international community to unite to deter China from invading Taiwan. He also expressed hope that Japan will deepen security cooperation with Taiwan.

The interview was conducted Thursday in the Taiwan capital Taipei. It was Lai's first interview with a Japanese media organization since he was nominated this April as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the presidential election in January next year.

Lai said his party must win the election so that Taiwan's democracy can continue to develop and ensure that future generations of Taiwanese will continue to enjoy freedom and human rights.

When asked to comment about the possibility of a Taiwan contingency, Lai said that the more strongly united and better prepared the international community is, the smaller the chance of China starting a war.

Lai went on to say that if the international community only looks at China's market and overlooks the danger the country poses, unity in the international community will break apart and increase the chances of war.

Lai also stressed that Taiwan is not about to give up its sovereignty for the sake of resuming dialogue with Beijing. He said that once Taiwan loses its sovereignty, its free and democratic system will collapse and Taiwan will end up like Hong Kong or Macao. He made clear that Taiwan will not accept Beijing's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.

With regard to Taiwan's relations with Japan, Lai said that while the whole world is responsible for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will play the most important role, followed by Japan because they face the most direct threat from China.

Lai said Japan and Taiwan should cooperate in security and other areas in every way possible.