Taiwan REACTS to TRUMP’s Comments
Some expressed varying degrees of agreement with former President Trump’s blunt statements about what he sees as an imbalance in defending the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name), while others noted that Taiwan is still waiting for $19 billion in American weapons.
Trump made these remarks in a Bloomberg Businessweek interview last week. The November Republican presidential contender stated, “I appreciate the people and know them well. Taiwan took 100% of our chip business. Taiwan ought to pay for defense.”
After the remarks were made public, TSMC’s already plummeting share price fell further. The next day, TSMC Chairman C. C. Wei told investors at a conference that the business will continue expansion in the U.S., Japan, and Germany despite geopolitical issues.
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai praised the U.S. for its support and said relations remain strong. Cho said Taiwan would pursue policies that demonstrate its international responsibilities.
The controversial Trump told Bloomberg, “We’re like insurers. Taiwan gives us nothing.” Some Taiwanese doubt this remark, arguing that Taiwan has been a reliable regional partner.
“It is inaccurate to say Taiwan doesn’t ‘give anything,” National Cheng Chi University diplomacy professor Huang Kwei-bo told Fox News Digital. “For decades, Taiwan has paid seller’s market prices for major weaponry systems from the United States, its sole provider.”
Joann Ko (Ko Chih-en), a prominent Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker, was surprised to hear the previous president call Taiwan a freeloader in the defense partnership.
“We’ve increased spending and readiness and I think we pay enough,” she told Fox News Digital in exclusive comments between legislative sessions on Thursday. “We are open to adjustments and value excellent relations with the U.S. We welcome US advice and will consider it. I disagree with those remarks.” However, many Taiwanese agree with Trump’s views.
Taipei-based lawyer, political pundit, and former Republicans Abroad Asia chairman Ross Feingold told Fox News Digital that Taiwan spends too little on defense as a percentage of GDP or annual spending. “Given the ever-increasing risk that Taiwan faces, the amount that Taiwan spends is clearly not enough and President Trump is right to point this out,” he stated.
Huang reports that Taiwan has increased defense spending. The last administration raised the defense spending from 2% of GDP to 2.5% via “one-off” expenditures. The 3% GDP level Trump has asked from NATO countries is still not met. NATO does not include Taiwan.
Huang noted that he wished the government had denied U.S. military loans, due to Trump’s perception of these “one-off” expenditures.
The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) requires the U.S. to equip Taiwan with defensive weaponry and reject any force or coercion that threatens Taiwan’s security or socioeconomic stability. Trump critics note that the TRA does not require Taiwan to pay for its defense.
