Trump says Taiwan should pay the US for its defence as ‘it doesn’t give us anything’

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses Donald Trump's comments on Taiwan's relationship with the United States, including his suggestion that Taiwan should pay the US for protection from China. It also covers Taiwan's response and the broader implications of Trump's statements on US-China relations.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Trump's Comments on Taiwan

1. What did Donald Trump say about Taiwan's relationship with the US?

• Trump suggested that Taiwan should pay the US to defend it, saying the US is "no different than an insurance company" and that Taiwan "doesn't give us anything".
• He questioned why the US is acting as Taiwan's "insurance" when Taiwan has allegedly taken American chip business.

2. How did Taiwan respond to Trump's comments?

• Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and the US have good relations despite the lack of formal ties, and that Taiwan is increasing its self-defense capabilities.
• Cho also said Taiwan is "working hard" to maintain the relationship with the US and is willing to "do more to defend ourselves and protect our security".

3. What is the broader context of Trump's comments on Taiwan?

• Trump's comments suggest his support for Taiwan may not be guaranteed if he wins the presidency again.
• They add to signs that the US approach to China could be hawkish but potentially unpredictable under a Trump administration.

[02] Implications for US-China Relations

1. How do Trump's comments relate to the US-China dynamic?

• Trump's statements call into question Washington's support for Taiwan, which China claims as a province and has vowed to annex.
• This adds uncertainty to the US's "strategic ambiguity" policy towards Taiwan, which refuses to state if the US would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

2. What other comments did Trump make about China in the interview?

• Trump pledged he would impose tariffs on China of between 60-100% if elected.
• However, he said he would back down on banning the China-owned app TikTok.
• He also said China's leader Xi Jinping was "a very good friend of mine" until the pandemic.

3. How do Trump's running mate's comments relate to the US-China dynamic?

• Trump's running mate JD Vance said the US should focus on China as its greatest security threat, and that the US needs the weapons to prevent China from invading Taiwan.