Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has affirmed that ties with the United States remain “rock solid” amid escalating tensions with China, following a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lai’s statement, made during an exclusive interview with Agence France-Presse on Tuesday, came as he defended a proposed $40 billion increase to Taiwan’s defense budget.
Lai expressed confidence that Taiwan’s parliament will approve the additional funding, intended for crucial defense purchases, including arms from the United States. He asserted that Washington will continue to support Taiwan and will not treat the island as a “bargaining chip” in negotiations with Beijing, despite warnings from Xi Jinping against further arms sales to Taipei. According to the Associated Press, the call between Trump and Xi included discussion of Taiwan’s future.
Beijing swiftly condemned Lai’s remarks, with a foreign ministry spokesperson labeling him a “peace disruptor, crisis creator, and war instigator.” The spokesperson further stated that seeking independence through external means is “doomed to failure.”
Lai warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would not be limited to the island itself, but would embolden Beijing to target other nations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan and the Philippines, with potential repercussions extending to the Americas and Europe. He emphasized Taiwan’s strategic location within the first island chain and its importance to regional security and international trade.
Ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Xi in Beijing in April, Lai welcomed any dialogue that would help maintain the status quo, describing Trump’s efforts as a “difficult peace-building effort” focused on safeguarding U.S. Interests and deterring Chinese expansionism. He reiterated that the U.S. Should not frame Taiwan as a bargaining chip in its trade competition with China, suggesting that China has more to gain from the U.S. Than vice versa.
The United States maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding direct military intervention in Taiwan’s defense, but remains the island’s most critical security partner and arms provider. Chinese military pressure on Taiwan has intensified under Xi Jinping, with frequent deployments of warships and fighter jets and six large-scale military drills since 2022, most recently in December. Some U.S. Officials have suggested a potential timeline for a Chinese attack on Taiwan as early as 2027, though Lai stated that recent changes within the Chinese military leadership do not alter Taiwan’s need for constant preparedness.
Lai stressed the importance of deterring Chinese aggression “at any time” and ensuring that there is “never a day that is a good day to invade Taiwan.” He likewise expressed hope for increased defense industry cooperation with European nations.
Despite concerns raised by U.S. Senators regarding Taiwan’s defense spending, Lai remains optimistic that the proposed budget will be approved, asserting that in a democratic society, political parties are ultimately accountable to the people. Legislation to enable the spending has been repeatedly blocked by opposition parties holding a majority in parliament since early December, hindering Lai’s agenda.
