Taiwan responds to Trump's "should pay us for defense" remarks.

Taiwan's official name, the Republic of China, is being defended by former President Trump. Reactions to his blunt statements regarding the cost of defending Taiwan were mixed, with some agreeing and others pointing out that Taiwan is still waiting for $19 billion worth of already-purchased American weapons.

In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek last week, Trump stated that he knows the Taiwanese people well and respects them greatly. He also mentioned that Taiwan took about 100% of the US's chip business and believes that Taiwan should pay for its defense.

Despite geopolitical tensions, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei announced that the company will continue with its expansion plans in the U.S., Japan, and Germany.

The Taiwanese Premier, Cho Jung-tai, expressed gratitude to the U.S. for its support and stated that the relationship between the two countries remains strong. Cho also emphasized that the Taiwan government will continue to implement policies that demonstrate its commitment to being a responsible member of the international community.

Trump's statement that Taiwan doesn't give him anything has been met with skepticism by some in Taiwan, who argue that Taiwan has been a reliable partner in the region.

"According to Huang Kwei-bo, professor of diplomacy at Taipei's National Cheng Chi University, it is incorrect to assert that Taiwan does not contribute anything. For many years, Taiwan has been purchasing major weaponry systems from the United States, its only supplier, at seller's market prices."

In 2023, the Biden administration resumed some limited military financial aid to Taiwan, marking the first such grants since the 1960s, according to Huang, who attributed this move to growing anti-Beijing sentiment in the U.S.

The former president's description of Taiwan as a freeloader in terms of its defense relationship with the country surprised Joann Ko, a prominent lawmaker from the Kuomintang opposition party.

"We have boosted our spending and readiness, and I believe we are adequately compensated," she stated to Planet Chronicle Digital during a brief interview between parliamentary sessions on Thursday. "Of course, we are open to discussing modifications, and we greatly appreciate our relationship with the U.S. The U.S. is welcome to provide recommendations, and we will carefully consider any proposals. However, I cannot concur with those remarks."

In Taiwan, there are voices who share or partially agree with Trump's sentiments.

Ross Feingold, a Taipei-based lawyer, political commentator, and former Asia chairman of Republicans Abroad, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Taiwan spends less on defense than it should, either as a percentage of its annual government spending or GDP. According to Feingold, the increasing risk that Taiwan faces necessitates a higher defense budget, and President Trump is correct in highlighting this issue.

Taiwan has recently increased its defense spending, with the last administration boosting the annual defense budget from around 2% of GDP to 2.5% when special "one-off" budgets are included. Despite this, these figures still do not meet the 3% GDP threshold that Trump has demanded from NATO members. Taiwan is not a member of NATO.

Huang expressed his wish that the government had rejected U.S. military funding or loans, as they might have conveyed the wrong message to Trump.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) mandates the United States to provide Taiwan with defensive arms and requires the U.S. to maintain the capacity to resist any force or coercion that would threaten Taiwan's security or socio-economic stability. Trump critics argue that the TRA does not require Taiwan to pay for its defense.

The Cato Institute highlights that Taiwan waits longer than other nations for the delivery of weapons, including HIMARS, newly built F-16s, and Abrams tanks, despite having already purchased an array of items from fighter jets to Abrams tanks, totaling $19 billion.

Feingold concurs with those who believe the US will not abandon Taiwan, despite spending not reaching the levels suggested by Robert O'Brien, a top Trump national security adviser, who recently stated that Taiwan should spend at least 5% of its GDP on defense, a figure Ko said would be difficult to achieve.

If Trump returns to the Oval Office in January 2025, it is likely that he will have a team of pro-Taiwan individuals around him, who are aware of the threats to global peace posed by the communist government in Beijing.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated on Friday that the island nation must prioritize self-defense and will modernize its military and increase spending in response to Trump's comments.

The foreign minister, who joined the cabinet on May 20 as part of the newly-elected DPP President Lai Ching-te's administration, stated that there is a consensus among everyone on the main point, which is the China threat.