Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te reiterates his need for talks based mostly on ‘parity and respect’ with China.
Printed On 18 Jun 2026
Taiwan’s president has stated he hopes the USA approves a $14bn arms sale “as quickly as potential”, reiterating that the island “rejects unification” with China.
Taiwan depends closely on US assist to discourage any potential Chinese language assault, and Washington has put strain on Taipei to extend its defence spending.
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However arms gross sales additionally complicate ties between Washington and Beijing. Democratically ruled Taiwan is viewed by China as its own territory, and Beijing has stepped up navy and diplomatic strain on the island.
In Could, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the $14bn deal was “below evaluate”.
Talking to the Taiwan Overseas Correspondents’ Membership in Taipei on Thursday, Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te reiterated his need for talks based mostly on “parity and respect” with China, however stated solely the Taiwanese folks can determine their future.
“Taiwan’s safeguarding of its personal nationwide safety and sustaining its democratic and free lifestyle, its refusal to just accept unification, and its refusal to just accept rule by the Chinese language Communist Get together shouldn’t be seen as a provocation towards China,” he added.
Taiwan stated the US’s commitments to Taiwan haven’t modified, as it’s required below home regulation to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself. A high US navy official said final month Washington was pausing its $14bn arms sale to Taiwan to preserve munitions for its battle on Iran.
“We are going to proceed to keep up shut communication with the US authorities, and we additionally hope the arms purchases will be authorised as quickly as potential,” Lai stated.
The Taiwanese president has championed elevated defence spending, although final month Taiwan’s parliament solely authorised two-thirds of the $40bn defence finances Lai had proposed, reducing the half that had been meant for drones and domestically produced weapons.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s defence ministry stated it was proposing one other particular defence package deal value $210bn new Taiwan {dollars} ($6.64bn) for surveillance and small unmanned floor drones.
Lai stated China ought to surrender using drive and its navy actions within the Western Pacific, as Taiwan’s arms purchases ship an essential message to the world that it’s prepared to defend itself.
