‘Protection fees’: can Taiwan still rely on US defence if Trump returns to office?

The former president’s ‘transactional’ nature means he might be ‘comparing offers’ from Taipei and Beijing if he wins re-election, analysts say

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Recent remarks by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have raised new uncertainties about Taiwan’s future defence ties with the United States. Photo: US Navy via AFP

Published: 10:00pm, 20 Jul 2024Updated: 10:26pm, 20 Jul 2024

The potential return of Donald Trump to the US presidency could not only increase Taiwan’s costs for defence and trade, but also raise questions about how the island’s new government would rally Washington to counter Beijing, analysts said.

The US Republican presidential nominee, who is seeking a second term in the White House, has said that it is “stupid” for the United States to offer protection to Taiwan for free, insisting that Taipei must pay more if it wants Washington to help defend the island.

“[Taiwan] did take about 100 per cent of our chip business,” Trump said in a June 25 interview published on Wednesday, adding that “Taiwan should pay us for defence. You know, we’re no different than an insurance company. Taiwan doesn’t give us anything.”

US presidential contender Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican Party’s nomination on Thursday. Photo: AP

Trump’s comments have sparked concerns in Taiwan over whether his return to office could lead to less US protection if the self-ruled island did not pay enough to Washington to fend off a potential attack from mainland China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

In Taipei on Friday, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the island would rely on its own abilities to defend itself against escalating military threats from the PLA.