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After Trump comments, Taiwan officials respond
STORY: :: July 18, 2024:: Taipei, Taiwan:: Taiwan’s foreign ministry comments after Trump says island should pay the U.S. for defense:: Kuoyu Chiao, Deputy Head, North America Department, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry:: “In the past, both Democratic and Republican governments have fulfilled their security commitments to Taiwan in accordance with the “Taiwan Relations Act” and the “Six Guarantees”, and Taiwan has continually strengthened its self-defense capability through arms purchases from the United States.””We have seen that in recent years the United States has continued to gather like-minded countries to shape peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait into not only a Taiwan-U.S. consensus, but also a regional consensus, and an international consensus. In the future, Taiwan will continue to work with the United States and like-minded countries to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capability and jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”The United States is Chinese-claimed Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, and Washington is bound by law to provide the means for the island’s defense.Taiwan’s government has made defense modernization a priority, including developing its own submarines, and has said many times the island’s security rests in its own hands. The budgeted defense spending for this year amounts to 2.5% of its gross domestic product, a historic high.Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, has repeatedly offered talks but had been rebuffed.
