After Donald Trump’s claim that Taipei” if pay” Washington for defense in the event of a conflict with neighboring China, Taiwan’s foreign minister said Friday that the self-ruled island may depend on itself for defense.
Taiwan is a part of China’s place, and it has recently increased its military appearance and reacted with sabre-rattling language toward Taiwan.
Trump claimed earlier this week that Taiwan” if spend” Washington for defense, but the United States has increased military aid and arms sales to Taiwan.
In reply Friday, Taiwan’s newly created foreign secretary Lin Chia-lung said Taipei took the former president’s feedback “very really”.
In his first press conference with international media since joining Taiwan’s fresh President Lai Ching-te, he declared,” Everyone should have this discussion that the risk is China.”
” As far as national army is concerned, we must rely on ourselves”, he said, adding Taiwan has increased its military expenditure from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent of its GDP in eight years.
He continued,” I anticipate it will continue to grow,” adding that the funds will fund both military changes and the purchase of more weapons.