TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to select Marco Rubio as secretary of state.

On Monday (Nov. 11), the New York Times cited three sources familiar with the matter saying Trump will likely tap Senator Rubio to serve as secretary of state, but his decision is not yet final. Rubio has been a Taiwan supporter, issuing statements backing the country's democracy and introducing legislation strengthening bilateral ties.

In 2019, Rubio responded to Chinese leader Xi Jinping's (習近平) calls for Taiwan's annexation by issuing a tweet supporting Taiwan as “an independent democracy and strong ally of the United States.” He added that the US must take further steps to bolster ties with Taiwan “in the face of China's increasingly aggressive actions and rhetoric.”

Legislation supporting Taiwan introduced by Rubio includes the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act, and a resolution commemorating 45 years of the Taiwan Relations Act. The Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act would upgrade and deepen US-Taiwan ties such as elevating the US representative to Taiwan to a Senate-confirmed position. 

The Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act seeks to fast-track the sale of arms to Taiwan, increase joint training between the US and Taiwan, and set up a munitions acquisition fund. It would also amend the wording of the Taiwan Relations Act to enable the US to provide arms that would have a deterrent effect on China. 

While speaking to reporters at the Republican National Convention on July 18, Rubio said Taiwan faces an “existential threat” and should bolster its defense spending, per Reuters. Rubio predicted Trump would “continue to do what he did in his first term and that is … continue to support Taiwan.”  

He added, “I can't speak for the Trump presidency, but I don't have any worries about the US being supportive of Taiwan and doing everything we can to discourage the Chinese from invading.”