Trump Proposes Taiwan Finance US Defence, Questions Island's Protection

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has called for Taiwan to pay for US protection. He avoided confirming whether he would defend the island against Beijing's military actions. Trump also accused Taiwan of taking the semiconductor industry away from the United States.

"Taiwan should pay us for defence," Trump stated in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. "You know, we're no different than an insurance company." His comments, made public on Tuesday, contrast with President Joe Biden's stance. Biden has repeatedly said he would send troops to defend Taiwan.

US-Taiwan Relations and Defence

In Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-tai responded by saying Taiwan is "willing to take on more responsibility and would defend itself." He expressed gratitude to Washington for its consistent concern over Taiwan's security. "I believe that as long as we continue to demonstrate these efforts, we will receive support from more countries," Cho said.

Cho also emphasised the strong relationship between Taiwan and the US. "I am sure that everyone knows that the Taiwan-US relations is rock-solid from the past years. The peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are our common responsibility and goal," he added.

Trump's Views on Taiwan's Semiconductor Industry

Trump expressed concerns about the security of the Taiwan Strait, where Beijing has been very aggressive. He suggested that Beijing could easily take over the island but has not done so because of its valuable semiconductor industry. "That's the apple of President Xi's eye," Trump said, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The former president accused Taiwan of taking "our chip business from us" and implied that Taiwan has the financial means to pay for its defence. "I mean, how stupid are we? They took all of our chip business. They're immensely wealthy," Trump remarked.

Reactions to Trump's Remarks

Trump's comments drew criticism from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who accused him of betraying Taiwan. "Former President Trump's threat to abandon our nation's longstanding, bipartisan commitments to Taiwan would mean betraying one of the world's most vibrant democracies to the Chinese Communist Party," said Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat and ranking member of the House Select Committee on China.

"Failing to provide for Taiwan's defence would not only be potentially illegal under the Taiwan Relations Act, it would be a betrayal of American values and our democratic institutions," Krishnamoorthi added. He urged his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recommit to supporting allies and partners, including Taiwan, in defence of democracy.

Expert Opinions on Trump's Stance

Miles Yu, director of the China Centre at Hudson Institute and a former Trump administration official, clarified that Trump did not say the US wouldn't defend Taiwan. Instead, Trump suggested that Taiwan should share more of the costs for collective defence. Yu noted this is "far less of a problem" for Taiwan than for other US allies in the region.

"The defence of Taiwan is enshrined in the Taiwan Relations Act," Yu said. "The joint defence of Taiwan is a national consensus. To change that will be extremely difficult." He added that compared to Biden, Trump would place "utmost importance" on building credible deterrence over Taiwan.

Taiwan has become a significant issue in US-China relations as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate. The island broke away from mainland China in 1949 following a civil war. Beijing claims sovereignty over it and vows to take it by force if necessary, while Washington insists any differences be resolved peacefully.

A domestic law — the Taiwan Relations Act — obligates the US to supply Taiwan with hardware and technology to deter any invasion from mainland China. In recent years, ties between Washington and Taipei have strengthened as Beijing increases military and diplomatic pressure on the island.

The rivalry between Washington and Beijing continues to heat up, making Taiwan one of the most contentious issues in their relationship. Ensuring stability and peace in the region remains a shared goal for both nations despite their differences.