Taiwan Pres. Defends US Arms Purchases 05/18 06:15

   

   TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's president on Sunday stressed that arms 
purchases from the United States are "the most important deterrent" of regional 
conflict and instability, after President Donald Trump called into question 
continued U.S. support of Taiwan following his visit to China.

   U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and security cooperation between the two sides are 
not only governed by law but also a catalyst for regional peace and stability, 
President Lai Ching-te said in a statement.

   "We thank President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability 
across the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continuous 
increase in the scale and amount of arms sales to Taiwan," he said.

   His statement came days after Trump raised doubts over his willingness to 
continue to sell arms to Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims as its 
own breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary.

   The U.S., like all countries that have formal ties with China, doesn't 
recognize Taiwan as a country but has been the island's strongest backer and 
arms supplier. Washington is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the 
means to defend itself and sees all threats to the island as a matter of grave 
concern.

   Trump rattles Taiwan with 'bargaining chip' comment

   Trump already approved in December a record-breaking $11 billion arms 
package to Taiwan including missiles, drones, artillery systems and military 
software.

   In an interview aired Friday on Fox News, just as Trump wrapped up a 
high-stakes visit to China, he said he has yet to greenlight a new $14 billion 
arms package to Taiwan and that it "depends on China."

   "It's a very good negotiating chip for us frankly," he said.

   His comments raised concerns on the island, which the Taiwanese government 
has sought to disperse, noting that the U.S. official policy on Taiwan has not 
changed.

   "Taiwan will not provoke or escalate conflict, but it will also not 
relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity, or its democratic and free way 
of life, under pressure," Lai said in his statement, calling China "the root 
cause of undermining regional peace and stability and attempting to change the 
status quo."

   U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Lai's statement, saying "I thought 
that was a reasonable thing for the leader there to say." Johnson said on Fox 
News Sunday, "China cannot just go take over land, and we're going to stand 
strong and resolute by that. I know the Congress will."

   U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ABC's "This Week with 
George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday that the president is "considering how to move 
forward on" the arms sales to Taiwan, noting previous U.S. presidents had 
paused sales in the past and Trump will need to weigh many factors. "When the 
president makes a decision on national security, it's really based on American 
security needs first though," Greer said.

   China has framed Taiwan as "the most important issue in China-U.S. 
relations" during Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent talks with Trump.

   In one of his strongest statements to date, Xi on Thursday warned Trump of 
"clashes and even conflicts" if the issue of Taiwan was not handled properly.

   China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when the 
Communist Party rose to power in Beijing following a civil war. Defeated 
Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, which later transitioned from martial 
law to multiparty democracy.