(HorizonPost.com) – Florida Senator Marco Rubio last Thursday said a second Trump administration would continue to support Taiwan’s independence from China after the former president suggested in a recent interview that Taiwan should pay the United States for its defense.
Rubio was asked about Trump’s comments during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. An outspoken supporter of Taiwan and an important Republican voice in US foreign policy, Rubio told reporters that Taiwan faced an “existential threat” that necessitated boosting its defense expenditures.
The ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told reporters that he expected Trump to continue to pursue the same policy he did in his first term and support Taiwan. While he conceded that he could not speak for Trump’s presidency, he had no worries that the United States would continue to support Taiwan with Trump in the White House, adding that the US would continue “doing everything we can” to stop China from invading Taiwan.
Some have floated Rubio as a possible cabinet secretary in a second Trump administration, including as Secretary of State.
Former Trump national security advisor Robert O’Brien also defended Trump’s recent comments, saying last week that he believed the former president was calling for more “burden sharing” in securing Taiwan.
O’Brien said Taiwan must “ramp up” its defense spending to counter Beijing and the United States should “be a part of that.” He suggested that Taiwan should be spending up to 5 percent of its gross domestic product on defense if it hoped to keep pace with China.
While the United States only maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, it is the island’s largest weapons supplier in the face of increased threats from China.
Unlike Ukraine, which relies on US aid for weapons supplies, Taiwan typically pays for the weapons it receives from the US.
Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States committed to provide the island nation the means to defend itself. However, the law does not require the US to come to Taiwan’s aid if it is attacked.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has maintained that he would be willing to use military force to defend Taiwan from a possible invasion from China.
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