Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, in response to Donald Trump’s criticism said that Taiwan must depend on itself for its defence and will probably keep increasing its military spending and modernisation due to the threat from China.
In an interview published this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is running again against President Joe Biden, stated that “Taiwan should pay us for defence” and accused the island of taking American semiconductor business.
The United States is Taiwan’s most significant international supporter and arms supplier, despite China’s claim over the island. Although there are no formal diplomatic relations, U.S. law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with defence means.
However, Taiwan does not have a formal defence pact with the United States like Japan and South Korea do, since Washington ended a previous treaty with Taipei in 1979 when it shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
In 2022, President Biden angered China by saying U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if China invaded, diverging from the longstanding U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity”.
When asked about Trump’s remarks, Lin told foreign reporters in Taipei that “we pay great attention to” them, emphasising that Taiwan-U.S. relations are founded on bipartisan support in the United States.
“I believe everyone agrees on the main issue, which is the threat from China,” said Lin, who became Foreign Minister on May 20 under the newly elected President Lai Ching-te.
“Regarding national defence, we must primarily rely on ourselves. This is the fundamental principle. Since Taiwan began its democratic transition over the last 30 years, we have faced China’s threat on our own.”
Over the past eight years, Taiwan’s defence spending has doubled to 2.5% of GDP, Lin noted. “I anticipate this will keep rising.”
All countries must “make significant efforts,” he added, as China’s defence spending is also increasing.
Lin mentioned that Taiwan is reforming its military, highlighting initiatives such as extending conscription from four months to a year.
Taiwan has prioritised defence modernisation, including developing its own submarines, and the government has repeatedly stated that the island’s security primarily depends on itself, particularly given Taipei’s diplomatic isolation.
Nancy Mbamalu
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