Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te declared on Sunday that arms purchases from the United States serve as "the most important deterrent" to regional conflict and instability. This statement comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s recent comments casting doubt on continued U.S. support for Taiwan, following his visit to China.
"We thank President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continuous increase in the scale and amount of arms sales to Taiwan," Lai said.
Trump’s remarks, made during a Fox News interview, suggested that future arms sales to Taiwan could be contingent on China’s actions, referring to such deals as a "very good negotiating chip." This raised concerns in Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own breakaway province and has vowed to retake by force if necessary.
Despite Trump’s comments, U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. The U.S. is legally bound to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, viewing any threats to the island as a matter of grave concern. In December, Trump approved a record-breaking $11 billion arms package to Taiwan, including missiles, drones, and artillery systems.
China’s Stance on Taiwan
China has consistently framed Taiwan as "the most important issue in China-U.S. relations." During recent talks with Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned of "clashes and even conflicts" if the Taiwan issue is mishandled.
Lai reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to avoiding conflict escalation while maintaining its sovereignty and democratic way of life. "Taiwan will not provoke or escalate conflict, but it will also not relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way of life, under pressure," he stated, identifying China as "the root cause of undermining regional peace and stability."
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Lai’s statement, emphasizing that "China cannot just go take over land, and we’re going to stand strong and resolute by that." U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted that Trump is considering how to proceed with arms sales, weighing national security needs.