Taiwan's ex-president asserts Ukraine has a more urgent need for US weapons than Taipei
Tsai Ing-wen's remarks follow statements from a high-ranking U.S. military official indicating that providing arms to Kyiv is depleting stockpiles intended for potential conflicts in Asia.
TroibNews 
HALIFAX, Canada — Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed on Saturday that the United States should focus on assisting Ukraine, even with the potential threat of a Chinese invasion of the self-governing island.
“They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians,” Tsai stated at the forum. “We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Her remarks at the Halifax International Security Forum came in response to comments made by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo, who indicated on Tuesday that the provision of weapons to Ukraine is beginning to impact the U.S. military's readiness for a possible conflict in Asia.
“Up to this year, where most of the employment of weapons were really artillery pieces and short-range weapons, I had said: 'Not at all,'” Paparo noted during a talk at the Brookings Institution earlier in the week. “But now, with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it's now eating into stocks.”
Tsai, who left office in January and handed leadership over to her Vice President William Lai, also received an award for her leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic at the Halifax conference.
Recognizing Taiwan's dependence on American weaponry and military assistance, Tsai stressed that U.S. support for Ukraine would play a crucial role in deterring China from a cross-strait offensive.
“A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression” globally Tsai remarked.
Taiwanese officials have indicated that the island has increased its defense spending by 80 percent over the past eight years, with the budget reaching a record $19 billion in 2024.
However, this has not satisfied President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has urged the island to elevate its defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly address whether Taipei should meet that target. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai noted.
For the past year, in part due to arguments put forth by Trump’s allies claiming that U.S. support for Ukraine is detrimental to American interests in the Indo-Pacific, the Biden administration has maintained that such support has not hindered the Pentagon’s capacity to prepare for a conflict with China.
Tsai was cautious when asked at the forum if Taiwan intends to make a significant purchase of American weapons in the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration. The island is currently awaiting the delivery of 66 new F-16V fighter jets, which are expected to arrive before the year concludes.
Nevertheless, the former Taiwanese president expressed optimism about ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
“We seem to be a very sensitive buyer,” Tsai acknowledged. “Some people may have some hesitation or have to extend [the] price before they agree to sell this weaponry. The United States seems to be more generous.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
“They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians,” Tsai stated at the forum. “We [Taiwan] still have time.”
Her remarks at the Halifax International Security Forum came in response to comments made by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo, who indicated on Tuesday that the provision of weapons to Ukraine is beginning to impact the U.S. military's readiness for a possible conflict in Asia.
“Up to this year, where most of the employment of weapons were really artillery pieces and short-range weapons, I had said: 'Not at all,'” Paparo noted during a talk at the Brookings Institution earlier in the week. “But now, with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it's now eating into stocks.”
Tsai, who left office in January and handed leadership over to her Vice President William Lai, also received an award for her leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic at the Halifax conference.
Recognizing Taiwan's dependence on American weaponry and military assistance, Tsai stressed that U.S. support for Ukraine would play a crucial role in deterring China from a cross-strait offensive.
“A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression” globally Tsai remarked.
Taiwanese officials have indicated that the island has increased its defense spending by 80 percent over the past eight years, with the budget reaching a record $19 billion in 2024.
However, this has not satisfied President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested that Taiwan “should pay” and has urged the island to elevate its defense spending to 10 percent of GDP. Tsai did not directly address whether Taipei should meet that target. “We would have some difficulty accepting an arbitrary figure,” Tsai noted.
For the past year, in part due to arguments put forth by Trump’s allies claiming that U.S. support for Ukraine is detrimental to American interests in the Indo-Pacific, the Biden administration has maintained that such support has not hindered the Pentagon’s capacity to prepare for a conflict with China.
Tsai was cautious when asked at the forum if Taiwan intends to make a significant purchase of American weapons in the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration. The island is currently awaiting the delivery of 66 new F-16V fighter jets, which are expected to arrive before the year concludes.
Nevertheless, the former Taiwanese president expressed optimism about ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
“We seem to be a very sensitive buyer,” Tsai acknowledged. “Some people may have some hesitation or have to extend [the] price before they agree to sell this weaponry. The United States seems to be more generous.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
