Taiwan's Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of self-reliance in defense following recent comments made by former US President Donald Trump. In response to Trump's suggestion that Taiwan should pay for its defense, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated that Taiwan will not be complacent and will not solely depend on others for its security.
Lin highlighted Taiwan's long-standing history of facing threats and intimidation from China, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in defense. He noted that Taiwan has significantly increased its defense spending in recent years, nearly doubling its budget from 2016 to 2024.