TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Tuesday (Jan. 7) emphasized the necessity of building a "democratic supply chain" in an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia. Lin called Taiwan a global pivot point and pledged to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's call for increased military spending. He highlighted China's rise as a challenge to the rules-based international order, asserting Taiwan's critical role in the global power balance.
Foreign Minister Lin stressed that Taiwan is not merely a "pawn in the middle" but a key player in the geopolitical game. Lin urged like-minded countries to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan to counter China's authoritarian expansionism. Taiwan's Presidential Office recently convened 19 central ministries and 16 local agencies for a closed-door tabletop exercise, simulating response strategies to large-scale Chinese military exercises targeting the first island chain.
Lin also warned that China's expansionist ambitions threaten the first island chain, global supply chains, and shared democratic values, with aggression against Taiwan affecting the entire world. He stated that China has launched a "hybrid warfare" combining legal, psychological, and disinformation tactics with military harassment.
Both China and Taiwan have applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to which Lin urged Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to sign a separate trade agreement with Taiwan. Lin affirmed Taiwan's readiness to increase defense spending, with the defense budget reaching 2.5% of GDP, surpassing Japan, South Korea, and many NATO members. He called for greater integration between the U.S. defense industry and Taiwanese companies, hoping to resolve military equipment delivery delays.
The foreign minister underscored Taiwan's crucial role in forming a "democratic supply chain" with like-minded nations to counter Chinese suppliers. Taiwan has identified eight sectors for collaboration, including semiconductors, cybersecurity, and AI sovereignty, with friendly governments like the U.S., Japan, and the EU.
