Taiwan is preparing for Trump’s definitions and Washington’s change

Not so long ago, Taiwan surrendered to boundless support from the two parties in Washington, where the island has long been a brave democratic partner against China.

Now, a few weeks after President Donald J. The second Trump, Taiwan adapts to a shift in its relationship with the United States, and its primary supporter – which does not focus on the common democracy ideals, and this is more uncertain and transactions. Mr. Trump Taiwan was accused of spending a very little security and obtained an unfair dominance in making semiconductor.

Taiwanese and businessmen officials are trying to ensure the new management of their commitment to cooperation. They traveled to Washington to attend meetings, held graphs that separate their military expenses, and attended the opening events filled with Maga. They have offered new deals that can mediate Taiwanese companies with American companies in the field of gas and other fields, and they tried to explain the value of the manufacture of semiconductors in Taiwan for American interests.

Behind their efforts are concerned about what Mr. Trump might do, for example, to pressure the Taiwanese companies to transfer advanced semiconductor production to the United States. Mr. Trump said it was soon Identification of definitions On the semi -conductors. Taiwan officials are preparing to help the Taiwanese companies reduce a blow to any such step.

He said: “I think Taiwan convinced herself that they had good relations with the United States and that they had many friends in Congress, and they will be able to overcome the storm,” he said. Bonnie S. GlaserThe Managing Director of the German India Program in March, who often speaks with Taiwanese politicians. “When Trump made these comments, I think it was an invitation to wake up to people in Taiwan that they don’t really know what will happen after that.”

Governments around the world are trying to adapt to Mr. Trump’s combat approach. But Taipei shares are particularly high. The island depends on the United States for almost all its main weapons. Send About a quarter From its exports directly to the United States, Washington is decisive in providing political support for Taiwan against Beijing, who claims that Taiwan is its lands and must accept monotheism – by force, if necessary.

Taiwan officials and political consultants said that the island will quickly offer measures to help its business from any new American tariff. They spoke on the condition that his identity is not disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the plans, and they refused to provide details. Some officials publicly alluded to preparations. “We are preparing for a set of scenarios,” the Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-Heeiand He told reporters When asked about the threatened tariff of Mr. Trump. “If we show our hands now, it will not do it for everyone.”

Even if Mr. Trump holds the definitions, Taiwan faces more pressure from his administration on other issues. It includes the large maximum trade surplus on the island with the United States, which rose to $ 74 billion last year According to American dataAnd its military spending and preparations, which many in Washington see lack, although billions of American military equipment orders are stuck In accumulation. Under the law, the United States commits Taiwan to defend itself, and leaves the possibility of military intervention if China tries to overcome the island.

“There is a basic mismatch. We said in a strong partnership, but America during the Trump era believes that Taiwan does not do enough.” Jason HsuHe is a former Taiwanese legislator and technology investor who is now an older colleague at the Hudson Institute. “Urgent or later, the Taiwan government will need to appear in the city with a ready package to present Trump.”

Publicly, the Taiwanese government expects quiet confidence in relations with Washington. However, the efforts of the Taiwanese officials to build bridges in the internal circle of Mr. Trump during the flights to Washington last month and in December, have not yet resulted in a few, three US officials said familiar with their attempts, who described interactions as limited.

Taiwan sent economic officials to Washington this week “to better explain ourselves to the Master Trump Department”, Mr. Ko, Minister of Economic Affairs, He told reporters Before they leave. Taiwan also hopes to buy more LNG from Alaska, He said.

“Taiwan is preparing some gifts for Trump,” he said, he said Jeremy Cheh Cheng ChangCEO of the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. “They have already pointed to some, as I saw in news reports – such as buying liquefied natural gas – but there are certainly others.”

In January, executive managers of the Taiwan semiconductor manufacturer, TSMC, the most advanced chips maker in the world – with Mr. Trump’s candidate for the Minister of Trade, Howard Lootnick, said that many people are aware of the talks that spoke two identity drives.

In December, the Taiwan officials visited Washington showed Republican officials and politicians showing a presentation aimed at proving that Taiwan had increased military preparations, according to people familiar with these discussions. They met with Michael Waltz, then a member of Congress in Florida known for being sincere in national security matters, according to one of the people.

Taiwanese officials are still hoping to find strong supporters in two men who were strongly criticizing China in Congress: Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister, and Mr. Waltz, and he is now a national security adviser to Mr. Trump. But some former officials who supported Taiwan in the first state of Mr. Trump were not brought to his new administration, including Mike Pompeo, the former foreign minister.

“He tells us that some solid falcons in Taiwan have been excluded,” he said. Christopher K. JohnsonChairman of the China Strategy Group, Consulting Company, and a former US government intelligence official. “Taiwan seems to bet on some wrong horses.”

Half Dzina or the like refused the officials who prepared to take high positions in the Pentagon to imitate the Republican Party, which is to support the extensive foreign access, in favor of reducing US military obligations abroad. They represent the principle of foreign policy ascending in a party, in recent years, it has risen to commit more military support for Ukraine, and pushed NATO allies to spend more on the neighborhoods.

In an opinion article It was published at the end of MayMr. Trump’s candidate warned to serve as the Pentagon Defense Minister Elberbridge Colby, that Taiwan should not be assumed that it was indispensable to the United States. “America has a strong interest in defending Taiwan, but Americans can stay without it,” he wrote. He and other Pentagon officials suggested that Taiwan should increase its military spending to at least 5 percent of its economic production, or about twice as much as it is currently spent.

The Taiwanese government said it is committed to the expanded military spending, although many experts and Taiwanese officials are, asking about the target of 5 percent. President Lay Cheng Tae from Taiwan also faces a legislative body controlled by opposition lawmakers who accused his government of waste spending and installed in parts of this year’s defense budget.

At the same time, Taiwan has its own frustrations with the United States, including the great accumulation Unhelpful orders From weapons and military equipment to the island.

He said, “I feel a pain that was told to spend more when they did not receive what they already paid,” he said. Steve YatesOld research colleague at the Heritage Foundation, referring to Taiwan. “The United States must repair the defensive manufacturing supply chain before it can reasonably pressure others to do it and buy more.”

Anna Swanson In Washington and Amy Chang Dog In Taipei, the reports contributed.