Defense Special Bill Stalled, Former US Official: Makes US Question Taiwan's Defense Commitment
Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Heino Klinck warned that the delay in deliberating Taiwan's special defense bill could lead the US to question Taiwan's commitment to defense. He noted that while the US maintains overwhelming support for Taiwan, internal debates in Taiwan could raise doubts about its seriousness.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 22:18
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 22:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 04:07 (5h 35m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shu-wei, Taipei, 30th) The draft special defense bill is still awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan. Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Heino Klinck stated today that while there is overwhelming bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US, Americans concerned about China's threat to Taiwan will begin to question whether Taiwan's internal debate over the special defense budget reflects the true attitude of the Taiwanese people towards their own defense commitment.
Klinck (Heino Klinck) served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Affairs from 2019 to 2021 during former US President Donald Trump's first term and visited Taiwan in 2019, making him the highest-ranking Pentagon official to visit Taiwan since the US and China established diplomatic relations in 1979. Klinck recently visited Taiwan and was interviewed by the Central News Agency this afternoon.
Regarding whether the Legislative Yuan's failure to pass the special defense bill in April would affect US support for Taiwan, Klinck believes that while there is still overwhelming bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US, the current challenge is that every American concerned about China's challenge and its threat to Taiwan will question whether Taiwan's internal debate over the special defense budget reflects the true attitude of the Taiwanese people towards their own defense commitment.
With Trump scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in a few weeks, there is concern about whether this will affect US arms sales to Taiwan. Klinck pointed out that the US's "Six Assurances" to Taiwan are established commitments and were declassified during Trump's first presidential term. He sees no indication that the Trump administration would deviate from the "Six Assurances." However, the negative impact on subsequent US arms sales to Taiwan caused by Taiwan's internal debate and delay over the special defense budget could be far greater than any impact Xi Jinping could cause.
Klinck stated that after decades of neglect, Taiwan's military has made significant progress in investing in defense in recent years. He finds it difficult to justify the KMT's internal debate over the special defense budget, hoping it is based on objective reasons such as procedures and processes, and is unwilling to speculate on political motives behind the KMT's opposition to the special defense budget. Taiwan has no time to waste; what is ordered today cannot be obtained tomorrow, so simply waiting will only make things worse.
Regarding the special defense budget's procurement of various unmanned vehicles, Klinck praised Taiwan's leadership for realizing that past efforts are no longer sufficient. Based on lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine war and other conflicts, Taiwan needs diversified defense capabilities, requiring traditional platforms for peacetime monitoring and control of air and sea domains, but different types of systems during wartime. Equipment needed in peacetime is not as practical in wartime.
Klinck pointed out that this is why the defense budget needs to reach a certain level to respond to various contingencies. If Taiwan's political circles can unite on the issue of defense spending, it will have multiple effects: not only strengthening Taiwan's deterrence but also sending a signal to China that Taiwan will defend its democracy, and letting China know that if it uses force against Taiwan, Taiwan will not easily yield.
Klinck further pointed out that Taiwan is an island, and given the possibility of a wartime blockade, it needs to stockpile supplies in advance and possess independent production capabilities. Ukraine's experience has provided a good example for Taiwan.
Klinck visited Taiwan last May with the US think tank "Atlantic Council" and met with President Lai Ching-te, discussing Taiwan's progress in defense and whole-society resilience over the past year. He noted that the Taiwanese government and public are taking threats more seriously, which is also reflected in the Han Kuang exercises. Having visited Taiwan since the late 1990s, he has also observed changes in Taiwanese society, such as the TV series "Zero Day Attack" being broadcast, which was unimaginable a few years ago, indicating that the Taiwanese people are beginning to think about the threats to their freedom and democracy.
Klinck said he believes more and more Taiwanese understand that they cannot take everything for granted. If China gets its way, Taiwan will not have democracy; it will become like Hong Kong today, no different from other Chinese cities. (Editor: Lin Xingshan) 1150430
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shu-wei, Taipei, 30th) The draft special defense bill is still awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan. Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Heino Klinck stated today that while there is overwhelming bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US, Americans concerned about China's threat to Taiwan will begin to question whether Taiwan's internal debate over the special defense budget reflects the true attitude of the Taiwanese people towards their own defense commitment.
Klinck (Heino Klinck) served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Affairs from 2019 to 2021 during former US President Donald Trump's first term and visited Taiwan in 2019, making him the highest-ranking Pentagon official to visit Taiwan since the US and China established diplomatic relations in 1979. Klinck recently visited Taiwan and was interviewed by the Central News Agency this afternoon.
Regarding whether the Legislative Yuan's failure to pass the special defense bill in April would affect US support for Taiwan, Klinck believes that while there is still overwhelming bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US, the current challenge is that every American concerned about China's challenge and its threat to Taiwan will question whether Taiwan's internal debate over the special defense budget reflects the true attitude of the Taiwanese people towards their own defense commitment.
With Trump scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in a few weeks, there is concern about whether this will affect US arms sales to Taiwan. Klinck pointed out that the US's "Six Assurances" to Taiwan are established commitments and were declassified during Trump's first presidential term. He sees no indication that the Trump administration would deviate from the "Six Assurances." However, the negative impact on subsequent US arms sales to Taiwan caused by Taiwan's internal debate and delay over the special defense budget could be far greater than any impact Xi Jinping could cause.
Klinck stated that after decades of neglect, Taiwan's military has made significant progress in investing in defense in recent years. He finds it difficult to justify the KMT's internal debate over the special defense budget, hoping it is based on objective reasons such as procedures and processes, and is unwilling to speculate on political motives behind the KMT's opposition to the special defense budget. Taiwan has no time to waste; what is ordered today cannot be obtained tomorrow, so simply waiting will only make things worse.
Regarding the special defense budget's procurement of various unmanned vehicles, Klinck praised Taiwan's leadership for realizing that past efforts are no longer sufficient. Based on lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine war and other conflicts, Taiwan needs diversified defense capabilities, requiring traditional platforms for peacetime monitoring and control of air and sea domains, but different types of systems during wartime. Equipment needed in peacetime is not as practical in wartime.
Klinck pointed out that this is why the defense budget needs to reach a certain level to respond to various contingencies. If Taiwan's political circles can unite on the issue of defense spending, it will have multiple effects: not only strengthening Taiwan's deterrence but also sending a signal to China that Taiwan will defend its democracy, and letting China know that if it uses force against Taiwan, Taiwan will not easily yield.
Klinck further pointed out that Taiwan is an island, and given the possibility of a wartime blockade, it needs to stockpile supplies in advance and possess independent production capabilities. Ukraine's experience has provided a good example for Taiwan.
Klinck visited Taiwan last May with the US think tank "Atlantic Council" and met with President Lai Ching-te, discussing Taiwan's progress in defense and whole-society resilience over the past year. He noted that the Taiwanese government and public are taking threats more seriously, which is also reflected in the Han Kuang exercises. Having visited Taiwan since the late 1990s, he has also observed changes in Taiwanese society, such as the TV series "Zero Day Attack" being broadcast, which was unimaginable a few years ago, indicating that the Taiwanese people are beginning to think about the threats to their freedom and democracy.
Klinck said he believes more and more Taiwanese understand that they cannot take everything for granted. If China gets its way, Taiwan will not have democracy; it will become like Hong Kong today, no different from other Chinese cities. (Editor: Lin Xingshan) 1150430
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.