Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te defended U.S. arms purchases on Sunday, saying they are “the most important deterrent” against regional conflict and instability after President Donald Trump questioned continued U.S. support for Taiwan following his visit to China.
In a statement, Lai said U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and security cooperation between the two sides are not only governed by law, but also serve as “a catalyst for regional peace and stability,” and he thanked Trump for support “since his first term.” Lai added that the level of arms sales has continued to increase, citing the “continuous increase in the scale and amount of arms sales to Taiwan.”
Lai’s statement came days after Trump raised doubts about whether the United States would keep selling arms to Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory and says could be retaken by force if necessary.
The Taiwan president also said Taiwan would not “provoke or escalate conflict,” but he added that it would not relinquish its “national sovereignty and dignity” or its “democratic and free way of life, under pressure.” Lai called China “the root cause of undermining regional peace and stability and attempting to change the status quo.”
Trump had approved a record-breaking $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, including missiles, drones, artillery systems and military software. In an interview aired Friday on Fox News as Trump wrapped up a high-stakes trip to China, Trump said he had not yet greenlighted a new $14 billion arms package and that it “depends on China,” adding, “It’s a very good negotiating chip for us frankly.”
On Fox News Sunday, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Lai’s statement, saying “I thought that was a reasonable thing for the leader there to say,” and he warned that “China cannot just go take over land.” Johnson also said “we’re going to stand strong and resolute by that” and that he expected Congress to do the same.
On ABC’s “This Week,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Sunday the Trump administration was “considering how to move forward on” the arms sales to Taiwan. Greer said previous U.S. presidents had paused sales in the past and that Trump would need to weigh many factors, while adding that “When the president makes a decision on national security, it’s really based on American security needs first though.”
The latest statements come as China has emphasized Taiwan in its relationship with the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in talks with Trump, framed Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” and Xi warned Trump on Thursday about “clashes and even conflicts” if the Taiwan issue was not handled properly.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, after the Communist Party rose to power in Beijing following a civil war. The defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, which later transitioned from martial law to multiparty democracy.