TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said he expects his country will continue to support Taiwan if Donald Trump is elected president, and encouraged Taiwan to boost defense spending.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention in the U.S. state of Milwaukee on Thursday (July 18), Rubio told reporters that Trump will “continue to do what he did in his first term and that is … continue to support Taiwan,” per Reuters.
"I can't speak for the Trump presidency, but I don't have any worries about the U.S. being supportive of Taiwan and doing everything we can to discourage the Chinese from invading," Rubio said.
Rubio was responding to questions about Trump’s commitment to Taiwan. In a report published by Bloomberg on Wednesday, Trump suggested Taiwan should pay the U.S. for defense.
After Trump’s suggestion, Premier Chou Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that Taiwan was prepared to take on more responsibility to defend itself.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is committed to providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself. The U.S. maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding whether or not it would come to Taiwan’s aid if it was attacked.
Rubio also said Taiwan should boost defense spending because it faces an “existential threat.”
On Thursday, a representative of Taiwan’s foreign ministry said that Taiwan remains committed to defending itself.
"In the future, we will continue to work together with the United States and like-minded countries to strengthen our national defense capabilities and jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the representative said.
