Taiwan Representative Yu Ngo-hsin: Not Worried About Taiwan Becoming a Bargaining Chip; US Will Sell Weapons to Taiwan Based on Needs

(Central News Agency, Washington, D.C., by reporter Hou Tzu-ying, June 6) US President Donald Trump recently stated that arms sales to Taiwan are a bargaining chip in negotiations with China. Taiwan's Representative to the US, Yu Ngo-hsin, said in an interview with foreign media that he is not worried about Taiwan being used as a bargaining chip, emphasizing that many matters are ongoing between Taiwan and the US, including in the security field. He added that as China's threat to Taiwan increases, the US will sell more weapons to Taiwan as needed.

Trump visited China in mid-May and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. After the meeting, Trump said he discussed arms sales to Taiwan with Xi, stating that a decision on a new $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan would be made soon, and called the arms sales a good bargaining chip.

Yu was asked about this in an interview with the US political news website Politico. According to the interview published today, Yu said he is not worried that Taiwan will be traded to China as a bargaining chip in any way. He noted that many matters are progressing between the US and Taiwan, not only in security but also in trade, investment, science, and education, and that there are no signs of any decrease in US attention to Taiwan.

When asked yesterday if he had made a decision on the $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, Trump said, "We are considering it." Yu stated that Taiwan will respect the pace of the US announcement on arms sales. "We have expressed to the US side that, in the face of increasing provocations from mainland China, we need these weapons procurements," Yu said.

Yu pointed out that this arms sale case is about enhancing Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, particularly preparations for asymmetric warfare, the ability to defend against Chinese missiles, and improving communication systems.

He said that China always hopes US arms sales to Taiwan will not happen, but he wants to emphasize that US arms sales to Taiwan are commensurate with the level of threat Taiwan faces. "Therefore, as the level of threat increases, the US will sell us more weapons as needed," he said.

Additionally, asked about the Trump administration not mentioning Taiwan in its "National Defense Strategy" and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth not mentioning Taiwan in his recent speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum, Yu responded that Hegseth did mention the "First Island Chain."

Yu pointed out, "We have always said that China's provocative actions are not limited to Taiwan." While Taiwan is a very important part of it, this concerns the entire First Island Chain. Hegseth emphasized the importance of keeping the First Island Chain strong and defensible. "I am even more encouraged because they have included us in this partnership that includes Japan, the Philippines, and other countries," Yu said. (Editor: Tang Peijun) 1150607