The Republic of China (ROC) (Taiwan) military. Photo courtesy of TVBS.
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, warned that China is accelerating its military intimidation and political influence campaigns against the island. In a recorded interview for the New York Times DealBook Summit, Lai said Chinese military drills targeting Taiwan have become more frequent and intense, while Beijing’s united-front operations are expanding.
These warnings echo Xi Jinping’s repeated declarations that Taiwan must be brought under CCP control and his order that the PLA be capable of taking the island by 2027. In response to this growing threat, Lai recently announced plans to raise Taiwan’s military spending by an additional $40 billion, aiming to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2030 under pressure from President Trump. Taiwan currently spends about 2.45 percent.
Lai downplayed concerns that U.S.–China trade negotiations might weaken the U.S.–Taiwan partnership, describing the relationship as “rock solid.” He avoided saying whether he trusts the United States to defend Taiwan militarily but noted that cooperation has expanded under President Trump, even though Trump has not explicitly made the defense commitments that President Biden repeatedly voiced.
Each time Biden declared that the United States would defend Taiwan, four times in total, the White House walked his statements back because they violated the One China policy, the overarching framework governing U.S. relations with both Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. These reversals left lingering questions about how much clarity or consistency Washington is willing to offer.
Read Full Article: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/12/us-taiwan-policy-strategic-ambiguity-looming-2027-deadline/
