TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Donald Trump took office on Monday, a KMT think tank said Taiwan could not rely on US support and urged the government to improve cross-strait relations.
The National Policy Foundation (國民黨智庫) in a press release on Tuesday said the government should not mislead the public by exaggerating the strength of the US-Taiwan relationship, per CNA. While Trump’s national security officials appear to be hawkish on China, the US will prioritize its own interests, it said.
It warned that US foreign policy over the next four years will likely depend on Trump’s personal likes and dislikes. It said that US and Taiwan interests would never be completely consistent, and the Lai government should face challenges pragmatically.
The KMT think tank said Trump’s handlings have been characterized by “double-handed strategies” and "double standards.” It pointed out that Trump intends to visit China within 100 days in office to deepen his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平).
Amid shifting global trends, the Lai administration announced plans to promote Taiwan’s key industries such as semiconductors and AI to “secure pivotal positions within global supply chains” and “make Taiwan an indispensable and trusted technological partner of democracies.” However, the KMT think tank responded that the government cannot expect its policies to receive unconditional US support, especially as Trump plans to impose tariffs on countries it views as competitors.
In addition, the think tank said US efforts to support Taiwan’s inclusion in international agreements such as the CPTPP have yielded poor results. While Taiwan should not give up on its inclusion and US support is welcomed, it said the Lai administration will face more international opposition if it does not improve cross-strait relations.
In the statement, the KMT also accused the ruling government of attacking opposition parties, saying the DPP's “one-sided” and “biased” policies will negatively impact the trilateral relationship between the US, Taiwan, and China.
The KMT think tank highlighted concerns about national security, saying it supports national defense preparedness and arms sales that fit Taiwan’s needs. However, it told the Lai government that building defense capabilities is meant to maintain peace and prevent war.
This Tuesday, the KMT and TPP enacted substantial cuts to the 2025 government budget, with the defense portion reduced by 3%. The legislature froze 50% of the submarine budget, 30% of the defense ministry's operational funds and 60% of its PR budget, one-third of the UAV industrial park budget, and half of the foreign ministry’s operating expenses.
Amid US calls for Taiwan to increase its military spending, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) criticized the decision as showing the international community that Taiwan has reduced its commitment to national defense.