TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) expressed optimism about the continuity of Donald Trump's policies in an online show on Sunday (March. 2), given Taiwan's prior experience with the U.S. during Trump's first term.
Positioning Taiwan as a key player in the semiconductor and non-red supply chains, Lin said U.S.-Taiwan cooperation as partners, not competitors. He stressed the importance of finding mutually beneficial intersections in diplomacy to serve Taiwan's national interests.
Regarding TSMC's (台積電) investment in the U.S., Lin believes it will bolster the American semiconductor industry, aligning both nations toward common goals and trusting TSMC's international capabilities.
Speaking about the U.S. State Department updated its website in February, removing the phrase "does not support Taiwan independence." Lin suggested that U.S.-Taiwan relations should be decoupled out of the context of U.S-China relations.
Also, Lin responded to the protection fee brought by President Trump, mentioning President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) commitment to increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP, a move positively received by U.S. circles. He further explained Taiwan's military budget has nearly doubled since President Tsai's administration.
Lin then called for a correct interpretation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from monopolizing the cross-straits issues. Furthermore, he noted Taiwan's stable relations with its 12 diplomatic allies, despite Haiti's political turmoil and the Vatican's interactions with China due to the Pope's outreach.
