Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has urged China to focus on improving the lives of its citizens rather than pursuing territorial expansion, highlighting concerns over Beijing’s economic slowdown. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Lai contrasted Taiwan’s robust economic growth with China’s struggles, noting that Taiwan’s economy is projected to grow 7.37% this year, while international financial institutions estimate China’s growth at just over 4%.
“China’s economy is indeed struggling,” Lai said, according to a transcript released by his office on Thursday. “We sincerely hope that as China faces economic pressures, President Xi Jinping will focus not on territorial expansion but on improving the well-being of the Chinese people.”
Lai also expressed Taiwan’s willingness to assist China in addressing its economic challenges, though he did not provide specific details about how the cooperation would take place.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has increased military and political pressure against the democratically governed island, whose government firmly rejects Beijing’s claims. The Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite policy support and resilient exports, China’s economy faces structural challenges, including overcapacity in factories and deflationary pressures expected to persist into next year. Analysts have warned that economic imbalances have worsened as production outpaces demand, even as the government works to curb price wars among firms. International financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Standard Chartered, estimate China’s 2025 growth at 4.5–5%.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s tech-driven economy is poised for its fastest growth in 15 years, benefiting from strong global demand for artificial intelligence technologies. The island’s Statistics Office highlighted that this surge in demand has contributed significantly to Taiwan’s optimistic growth forecast.
