Taiwan’s former president urges US to prioritise aiding Ukraine over Taiwan for now – report
Former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has suggested that the US should prioritise helping Ukraine over Taiwan – in the immediate future – as Kyiv needs weapons more urgently than Taipei.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, the former Taiwanese leader was quoted by Politico as saying: “They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians … We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Tsai, who left office in January, added: “A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression.” This suggests Tsai believes that US military support for Kyiv – something that has come under threat with Donald Trump’s election victory – would help deter China from a cross-strait attack.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim that Taiwan’s government rejects. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition. China has launched major military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island.
Tsai Ing-wen speaks with Nick Schifrin, from PBS NewsHour, after accepting the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photograph: Kelly Clark/AP
Politico reports:
Taiwanese officials have said that the island has boosted defence spending by 80 percent in the past eight years, hitting a record $19bn in 2024.
But that hasn’t been enough to placate president-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has also called for the island to boost defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly respond to whether Taipei should raise its budget to that level. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai said.
Taiwan’s former president urges US to prioritise aiding Ukraine over Taiwan for now – report
Former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has suggested that the US should prioritise helping Ukraine over Taiwan – in the immediate future – as Kyiv needs weapons more urgently than Taipei.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, the former Taiwanese leader was quoted by Politico as saying: “They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians … We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Tsai, who left office in January, added: “A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression.” This suggests Tsai believes that US military support for Kyiv – something that has come under threat with Donald Trump’s election victory – would help deter China from a cross-strait attack.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim that Taiwan’s government rejects. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition. China has launched major military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island.
Tsai Ing-wen speaks with Nick Schifrin, from PBS NewsHour, after accepting the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Tsai Ing-wen speaks with Nick Schifrin, from PBS NewsHour, after accepting the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photograph: Kelly Clark/AP
Politico reports:
Taiwanese officials have said that the island has boosted defence spending by 80 percent in the past eight years, hitting a record $19bn in 2024.
But that hasn’t been enough to placate president-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has also called for the island to boost defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly respond to whether Taipei should raise its budget to that level. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai said.
Taiwan’s former president urges US to prioritise aiding Ukraine over Taiwan for now – report
Former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has suggested that the US should prioritise helping Ukraine over Taiwan – in the immediate future – as Kyiv needs weapons more urgently than Taipei.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, the former Taiwanese leader was quoted by Politico as saying: “They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians … We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Tsai, who left office in January, added: “A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression.” This suggests Tsai believes that US military support for Kyiv – something that has come under threat with Donald Trump’s election victory – would help deter China from a cross-strait attack.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim that Taiwan’s government rejects. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition. China has launched major military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island.
Tsai Ing-wen speaks with Nick Schifrin, from PBS NewsHour, after accepting the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photograph: Kelly Clark/AP
Politico reports:
Taiwanese officials have said that the island has boosted defence spending by 80 percent in the past eight years, hitting a record $19bn in 2024.
But that hasn’t been enough to placate president-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has also called for the island to boost defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly respond to whether Taipei should raise its budget to that level. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai said.
Taiwan’s former president urges US to prioritise aiding Ukraine over Taiwan for now – report
Former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has suggested that the US should prioritise helping Ukraine over Taiwan – in the immediate future – as Kyiv needs weapons more urgently than Taipei.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, the former Taiwanese leader was quoted by Politico as saying: “They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians … We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Tsai, who left office in January, added: “A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression.” This suggests Tsai believes that US military support for Kyiv – something that has come under threat with Donald Trump’s election victory – would help deter China from a cross-strait attack.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim that Taiwan’s government rejects. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition. China has launched major military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island.
Tsai Ing-wen speaks with Nick Schifrin, from PBS NewsHour, after accepting the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photograph: Kelly Clark/AP
Politico reports:
Taiwanese officials have said that the island has boosted defence spending by 80 percent in the past eight years, hitting a record $19bn in 2024.
But that hasn’t been enough to placate president-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has also called for the island to boost defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly respond to whether Taipei should raise its budget to that level. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai said.
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