TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President-elect Donald Trump cannot "make America great again" without Taiwan due to its crucial role in the chip industry, said Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).
During a legislative session on Thursday (Nov. 7) after the US election, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties expressed concern about Trump's protectionism and isolationist leanings, per CNA. The foreign minister responded, “To make America great again, you cannot do it without Taiwan.”
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) expressed concern about Trump’s economic measures, in particular imposing tariffs and trying to keep the tech industry and jobs within the US. Lin responded that Taiwan-US relations are mutually beneficial and economic integration is deep.
The US and Taiwan share a common interest in expanding chip cooperation, Lin added, which is linked to both sides’ prosperity.
On the campaign trail, Trump accused Taiwan of stealing the chip industry and said Taipei should pay the US for defense. Trump also said 10% of Taiwan’s GDP, or NT$2.6 trillion (US$80 billion), should go to defense, which Taiwanese lawmakers called an unreasonable demand.
Asked by lawmakers what would happen if the US demanded significantly more spending on defense, Lin pointed out that Taiwan has been paying the US for its defense for decades. He added Taiwan has outstanding orders worth US$19 billion for purchases of US weapons systems.
In addition, during the past eight years under the DPP, Taiwan's defense budget has almost doubled to more than NT$600 billion.
DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) asked whether the foreign ministry has made predictions about the new Trump administration’s personnel. Wang said who Trump selects as secretary of state, national security advisor, and economic and trade negotiators will have a huge impact on Taiwan.
He added the foreign ministry has compiled a list of possible selections, including officials from Trump's first term or members of his campaign team. Wang also asked whether Taiwan’s security officials had contact with Trump’s staff, to which Lin responded there were long-term policy exchanges and communication channels.
