Taiwan’s top diplomat expressed optimism about the island nation’s relationship with the United States on Monday, just days before President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese leadership in Beijing.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that Taiwan remains confident about its diplomatic ties with Washington, despite the upcoming three-day summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to begin Wednesday. The status of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory but operates as a democracy, is expected to be a major topic of discussion.
Speaking from Taiwan’s parliament building in Taipei, Lin emphasized his government’s ongoing dialogue with American officials regarding the high-stakes meeting.
“We have also maintained continuous communication with the United States — whether through public statements from the U.S. government or through non-public channels. We are confident in the stable development of Taiwan-U.S. relations,” he said.
Lin also noted American consistency on the issue, stating: “The U.S. government has repeatedly expressed that its Taiwan policy will not change.”
The diplomatic assurances come as regional tensions remain high, with Beijing having never ruled out military action to bring Taiwan under its control. Meanwhile, American law requires the U.S. to help Taiwan maintain its defensive capabilities, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently emphasized the need for regional stability.
However, Taiwan faces pressure to increase its military spending. Last week, the island’s opposition-controlled legislature approved a defense budget smaller than what the government had requested, prompting disappointment from U.S. officials who want Taiwan and other allies to boost their military investments.
Lin urged lawmakers to take corrective measures to ensure adequate funding for Taiwan’s security needs, arguing that regional peace requires demonstrating strong defensive capabilities.
“However, peace depends on strength — it requires demonstrating the defence capability for self-defence in order to deter aggression,” he said.
“In particular, the Chinese communists are currently pursuing military buildup and authoritarian expansion.”
