TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt emphasized the importance of U.S. alliances in Asia when addressing Taiwan issues during an online forum on Thursday (Sept. 12), warning that if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lacks enthusiasm for this strategy, it could harm U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
Burghardt noted that President Joe Biden has made significant progress in strengthening ties with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. He contrasted this with Trump's less enthusiastic stance on such alliances.
In a June interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Trump accused Taiwan of stealing U.S. chip business and suggested that Taiwan should pay for U.S. defense. Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute (亞洲社會政策研究所), echoed Burghardt's views, stating that Trump has made it clear he does not believe the U.S. should endlessly provide weapons or support other nations against aggressors.
During Wednesday's U.S. presidential debate, Trump addressed the Russia-Ukraine war only by expressing a desire to end it without taking sides. Daniels pointed out that Democratic presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris has yet to clearly outline her foreign policy or stance on Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. If she continues Biden's approach, she will likely prioritize U.S. relations with Indo-Pacific allies.
China put its military ties with the U.S. on pause after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. This forum marked the first resumption of such communication since then.
Sung Wen-ti (宋文迪), a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, remarked that Taiwan now confidently believes in the consistency of U.S. Taiwan policy, regardless of the ruling party.
