Former President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether he would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion if he were re-elected as U.S. president.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Trump questioned the need to defend Taiwan, pointing out its distance from the U.S.
“Taiwan is 9,500 miles away,” he said, as reported by NewsWeek. “It’s 68 miles away from China.”
He suggested that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for protection, comparing it to an insurance policy.
Historical Context
China’s Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, although it has never ruled the island since coming to power in 1949. Taiwan’s new President, Lai Ching-te, and his government reject this claim.
Trump’s stance will likely disappoint Taiwan’s leaders, who have worked to keep U.S. support. After Lai’s inauguration in May, China held military drills around Taiwan, criticizing Lai’s speech as promoting separation from China.
Approved ~ FS
Crow