TAIPEI: The United States will not abandon the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said, days after US President Donald Trump’s heated exchange with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky raised concerns over US support for Taiwan.
Taiwan, facing a constant threat from China, relies heavily on Washington for security.
Trump’s criticism of Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductor chips and defence spending has fueled doubts about his commitment to the island’s protection.
Speaking on Monday—after Trump told Zelensky to strike a deal with the US “or we’re out”—Koo said he was “convinced the US will not abandon the Indo-Pacific.”
“It does not want war in the region, as that would mean losing the Indo-Pacific at immense cost,” he said, calling the region a “fundamental US national interest” for economic, geopolitical, and military reasons.
Koo warned that Taiwan’s security is critical to its neighbours, particularly Japan and the Philippines, which also face territorial disputes with China.
“If Taiwan were breached, what situation would Japan and the Philippines face?” he asked, warning that China’s “authoritarian expansionism” would not stop.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it is assessing the positions of Russia, the US, the EU, and Ukraine after reports that Trump suspended military aid to Kyiv.
Though Washington has no formal ties with Taipei, it remains Taiwan’s key security partner and arms supplier. Koo said discussions on military procurement with the US are ongoing, stressing the need to expedite weapons sales to strengthen Taiwan’s defences.
Taiwan’s annual “Han Kuang” military drills will expand this year with five new joint exercises and 10 days of live-fire drills, he added. – AFP
