US Retired General Praises Taiwan as Model Ally, Urges Passage of Special Defense Budget Before Trump-Xi Meeting
Retired US Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery lauded Taiwan as a model ally and called for its special defense budget to be passed before the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting to bolster deterrence against China.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 10:20
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Central News Agency
(Washington, April 30, special report by Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying) US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Beijing in mid-May to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Retired US Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery stated today that Taiwan is a model ally of the United States, and the government plans to gradually increase its defense budget. He also called on all political parties in Taiwan to pass the special defense budget before the Trump-Xi meeting, stating that "without a defense budget, there is no way to deter China."
The Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), a Washington think tank, held a seminar today to discuss the growing threats facing Taiwan and its efforts to enhance defense capabilities. One session invited Montgomery (Mark Montgomery) and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Wallace Gregson to speak.
When asked about Taiwan's special defense budget, Montgomery, now a senior fellow at the Washington think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies," stated that Taiwan needs anti-access equipment and high-end equipment. "This is a good budget," he said, expressing disappointment that the budget was opposed by the Kuomintang.
He pointed out that all political parties in Taiwan must act, "If they are smart, they should get it done before May 14." Taiwan does not need to be on the agenda for the Trump-Xi meeting.
Trump is expected to visit China from May 14 to 15 and hold a summit with Xi Jinping. Although Montgomery does not believe Trump will make concessions on the Taiwan issue, if Taiwan fails to pass the special defense budget and increase military spending before the Trump-Xi meeting, it will put itself "on the menu," becoming a subject for discussion.
Montgomery also said that if Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen's eyes were blinded by her previous visit to China, believing it would be good for Taiwan to appear "on the menu" of the US-China talks, then she is not thinking for Taiwan. If she continues to obstruct the defense budget, she is not safeguarding Taiwan's national security and is not helping US-Taiwan relations.
He emphasized: "Without a defense budget, there is no way to deter China."
President Lai Ching-te last year proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over 8 years to counter China, but this was obstructed by the opposition camp led by the Kuomintang, which pushed for a scaled-down Kuomintang version of the proposal. The draft special defense bill is currently awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan.
Cheng Li-wen recently stated in an interview with Bloomberg News that the Kuomintang fully supports military purchases from the US, but it is impossible to give blank authorization for parts without content. As soon as subsequent letters of offer from the US arrive, they will be reviewed by the legislature immediately, without any delay or obstruction.
In addition, Montgomery also praised Taiwan as a "model ally" of the United States. Taiwan sells a large number of chips to the US, which are "the soul of the American economy," including chips needed for home appliances and even weapon systems, many of which come from Taiwan.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Taiwan has signed a trade agreement with the United States, pledging to expand investment in the US, including an autonomous investment of US$250 billion by Taiwanese manufacturers and a US$250 billion credit guarantee provided by the government. The Taiwanese government is also gradually increasing its defense budget, which currently accounts for about 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP), and has pledged to increase it to 5% in the future. (Edited by: Hsieh Yi-hsuan) 1150501
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(Washington, April 30, special report by Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying) US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Beijing in mid-May to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Retired US Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery stated today that Taiwan is a model ally of the United States, and the government plans to gradually increase its defense budget. He also called on all political parties in Taiwan to pass the special defense budget before the Trump-Xi meeting, stating that "without a defense budget, there is no way to deter China."
The Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), a Washington think tank, held a seminar today to discuss the growing threats facing Taiwan and its efforts to enhance defense capabilities. One session invited Montgomery (Mark Montgomery) and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Wallace Gregson to speak.
When asked about Taiwan's special defense budget, Montgomery, now a senior fellow at the Washington think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies," stated that Taiwan needs anti-access equipment and high-end equipment. "This is a good budget," he said, expressing disappointment that the budget was opposed by the Kuomintang.
He pointed out that all political parties in Taiwan must act, "If they are smart, they should get it done before May 14." Taiwan does not need to be on the agenda for the Trump-Xi meeting.
Trump is expected to visit China from May 14 to 15 and hold a summit with Xi Jinping. Although Montgomery does not believe Trump will make concessions on the Taiwan issue, if Taiwan fails to pass the special defense budget and increase military spending before the Trump-Xi meeting, it will put itself "on the menu," becoming a subject for discussion.
Montgomery also said that if Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen's eyes were blinded by her previous visit to China, believing it would be good for Taiwan to appear "on the menu" of the US-China talks, then she is not thinking for Taiwan. If she continues to obstruct the defense budget, she is not safeguarding Taiwan's national security and is not helping US-Taiwan relations.
He emphasized: "Without a defense budget, there is no way to deter China."
President Lai Ching-te last year proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over 8 years to counter China, but this was obstructed by the opposition camp led by the Kuomintang, which pushed for a scaled-down Kuomintang version of the proposal. The draft special defense bill is currently awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan.
Cheng Li-wen recently stated in an interview with Bloomberg News that the Kuomintang fully supports military purchases from the US, but it is impossible to give blank authorization for parts without content. As soon as subsequent letters of offer from the US arrive, they will be reviewed by the legislature immediately, without any delay or obstruction.
In addition, Montgomery also praised Taiwan as a "model ally" of the United States. Taiwan sells a large number of chips to the US, which are "the soul of the American economy," including chips needed for home appliances and even weapon systems, many of which come from Taiwan.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Taiwan has signed a trade agreement with the United States, pledging to expand investment in the US, including an autonomous investment of US$250 billion by Taiwanese manufacturers and a US$250 billion credit guarantee provided by the government. The Taiwanese government is also gradually increasing its defense budget, which currently accounts for about 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP), and has pledged to increase it to 5% in the future. (Edited by: Hsieh Yi-hsuan) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.