Taiwan: ‘Foreign forces’ can’t decide its future
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that “foreign forces” cannot decide the future of the democratic island, which relies heavily on US security backing to deter a potential Chinese attack.
Lai’s remarks came days after US President Donald Trump suggested arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China, which claims the island is part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.
“Taiwan’s future cannot be decided by foreign forces, nor can it be held hostage by fear, division, or short-term interests,” Lai said in a speech to mark the second year of his presidency.
Trump’s comments in an interview with Fox News and on board Air Force One followed a state visit to Beijing last week where Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed the US leader not to support Taiwan.
Since then, Lai’s government has been on the offensive, insisting that US policy on Taiwan has not changed and that Trump made no commitments to China on arms sales to the island.
Taipei says China is the “root cause” of regional instability and US arms sales are a legal commitment to the defense of the island democracy.
Military upgrade
In his remarks on Wednesday, Lai said his government was increasing defense spending to “prevent a war,” not to start one, and noted that “threats are greater than ever before.”
“Taiwan must have the capability to protect itself and to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Lai said.
Since Trump took office, Taiwan has been under intense pressure to spend more on its own protection and increase investment in the United States.
Taiwan has been pouring billions of dollars into upgrading its military and developing its own defense industry, but the island remains heavily reliant on US sales of high-tech weaponry that it would need in a conflict with China.
Taiwan’s parliament recently approved a $25-billion defense spending bill that will be used for US weapons.
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