Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu Discusses US-Taiwan Relations Under Trump
In a recent interview, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu expressed confidence that the United States, under President Donald Trump, will continue to support Taiwan. Wu emphasized Taiwan’s critical role in the global semiconductor industry, producing over 60% of the world’s chips and more than 90% of the most advanced ones. He believes this makes Taiwan indispensable to Trump’s vision of making America great again.
Wu addressed concerns about US military support, noting that Taiwan has nearly doubled its defense budget over the past eight years. Despite a backlog of US weapons deliveries, Taiwan remains open to purchasing advanced military equipment like the F-35 fighter jet if available.
Wu described Taiwan’s strategy as a “not today” policy, aimed at deterring Chinese aggression. This approach keeps Chinese leader Xi Jinping uncertain about invading Taiwan. Meanwhile, China has significantly increased its military activities around Taiwan, with a 300% rise in airspace incursions since May, according to US Commander of Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider.
General Schneider highlighted that China’s actions are not limited to Taiwan but demonstrate its broader strategic goals. From May to November last year, Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone 335 times, compared to at least 1,085 times during the same period this year.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like a separate country, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Deputy Foreign Minister -: A Deputy Foreign Minister is a high-ranking official in a country’s government who helps manage relationships with other countries. In this case, Francois Wu is helping Taiwan manage its relationship with the United States.
US-Taiwan Relations -: US-Taiwan relations refer to the political, economic, and military interactions between the United States and Taiwan. These relations are important for both countries, especially in terms of trade and security.
Trump -: Donald Trump was the President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. During his presidency, he had specific policies and actions that affected how the US interacted with other countries, including Taiwan.
Semiconductor Industry -: The semiconductor industry involves making tiny electronic parts called chips, which are used in many devices like computers and smartphones. Taiwan is a major producer of these chips, making it important for global technology.
Defense Budget -: A defense budget is the amount of money a country spends on its military and defense activities. Taiwan has increased its defense budget to strengthen its military capabilities.
Advanced US Weapons -: Advanced US weapons are modern and sophisticated military equipment made by the United States. Taiwan is interested in buying these to improve its defense against potential threats.
“Not Today” Policy -: Taiwan’s “not today” policy is a strategy to prevent or delay any aggressive actions from China. It means being prepared and cautious to avoid conflict.
Chinese Aggression -: Chinese aggression refers to actions by China that are seen as threatening or hostile, especially towards Taiwan. This includes military activities like flying planes into Taiwan’s airspace.
Airspace Incursions -: Airspace incursions happen when military planes enter another country’s airspace without permission. China has been doing this more often around Taiwan, which is concerning for Taiwan’s security.
