TAIPEI, Taiwan – The United States will not abandon its allies in the Pacific and the incoming Trump administration should renew its commitment to providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself, former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday in Taipei.
The first Trump administration, in which Pence served, offered strong support to Beijing-claimed Taiwan, including regularizing arms sales.
But Trump, who will take office on Monday for a second term, unnerved Taiwan during the election campaign by demanding that the democratically governed island pay to be defended and accusing it of stealing the U.S. semiconductor business.
On his first visit to Taiwan, Pence said he prayed for a peaceful future for the region.
“I am convinced that the United States will never abandon our allies across the Pacific, and I call on the new administration in Washington and freedom-loving nations around the world to urgently renew our commitment to providing Taiwan with the support that he needs to defend himself and his countries. freedom,” he stated.
In addition to military support, the Trump administration should also begin negotiations for a free trade pact with Taiwan, Pence added, a deal the Taipei government has long sought.
Pence, who arrived in Taiwan after a visit to Hong Kong, said there was broad bipartisan agreement in Washington that China represented the greatest strategic and economic threat facing the United States and its allies this century.
“While the United States’ perception of China has changed greatly in recent years, I can assure you that one thing has not changed, and that is the American people’s deep respect and support for the people of Taiwan.”
Republicans Trump and Pence have had a strained relationship since the end of Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021. During that time, Pence served Trump loyally, but rejected Trump’s demand to overturn his 2020 election loss on the 6th. January 2021, before Trump. His supporters stormed the US Capitol.
Taiwan has no formal relations with the United States, which, like most countries, only has diplomatic ties with China, but Washington is required by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
China has increased its military pressure against Taiwan and refuses to talk to its president, Lai Ching-te, saying he is a “separatist.”
Lai has offered talks with Beijing but rejects its sovereignty claims, saying only the people of Taiwan can decide its future.
