Christopher Bodeen, Ellen Nickmeyer, Simina Mistonu
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Republican and Democrat lawmakers made their first trip to Taiwan under the new Trump administration. Both Taiwan and China aim to show that despite harsh language and the tariffs imposed on Taiwanese people, US support for Taiwan’s defense remains wide.
Taiwan’s leaders assured the Republican US administration that they were acting in response to Trump’s complaints.
Many Asia-Pacific countries have shunned retaliatory criticism and tariffs from several US European allies after Trump slapped widespread tariffs in many countries around the world, including 32% of Taiwan earlier this month.
Despite that hit, he said this week’s conversation in Taiwan looks “optimistic and positive.” “We are optimistic to see the next strong chapter in U.S. Thailand-wan relationship,” he said.
Taiwanese say they are working quickly to attack new trade and investment transactions tailored to the Trump administration, along with the $100 billion investment of the advanced simulator giant in chip production this year.
The US lawmakers also said Taiwan is taking lessons from Ukraine in its defense against Russia and criticism from Trump, and are investing quickly to make their military stronger, Nimbler and the US dependence on China stronger and lesser as the strongest deterrent against China. That includes seeking investment with Americans in drone warfare.
Rankings Republicans and Democrats of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s East Asia Subcommittee, Pete Ricketts and Democrats spoke ahead of scheduled consultations with President Lai Chinte, Defense Minister Wellington Koo and national security adviser Joseph Wu on Friday. Republican Sen. Ted Budd is also on the road.
In a statement carried by the official Central News Agency, Rai called for a “safe and sustainable economic and trade partnership” between the two parties. It includes the creation of a “non-red supply chain” for manufacturing that excludes China’s involvement to address geopolitical and climate change challenges, the agency cited LAI as saying in its presidential office building.
Such an approach involves considerable challenges as producers of Taiwanese items sold in the US, such as mobile phones and electronic devices, are primarily assembled in China.
The mission comes when the economy-shaking trade war between the US and China has the warning that China can attack in Taiwan, an autonomous island with vibrant democracy and world-leading production of semiconductors. China claims that Taiwan will be recaptured by force if necessary.
Trump has repeatedly accused Taiwan of “stealing” the US computer chip industry. His criticism of Taiwan and his assertion last year that “Taiwan should pay us” raised concerns that if Taiwan’s strongest military partner, the United States, would decide not to engage too much.
This month, the 32% tariffs in Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on Trump’s trading partners surprised many Taiwanese who thought their government had shown a true ally against Washington.
“Go past rhetoric and see what you do,” Ricketts said, repeating the Republican password in Trump’s statement.
After he said he was not in a hurry to end the trade deal, the president said he thought he could close the talk “over the next three or four weeks.”
Another major Asian US partner, Japan, held the first round of customs talks between Washington’s top negotiators on Friday. There, both sides agreed to reach an agreement as soon as possible later this month and to hold a second round of meetings. But experts say it will take more than a few months to reach a full-scale agreement with dozens of countries awaiting the Trump administration.
Ricketts cited the priorities Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses placed on helping the Asia-Pacific region secure China. That included making it one of the first regions he took office, Ricketts said.
Rickett said Taiwanese leaders had already contacted Commerce’s Howard Lutnick for negotiations and moved quickly with a 90-day suspension announced by Trump before the US began implementing new tariffs in most countries.
Taiwan’s president, Lai, pledged to increase Taiwan’s military spending to 3% of gross domestic product, rising from around 2.5%, up almost a fifth of the overall budget.
Taiwan’s own defense industry produces advanced weapons, from submarines to small arms and anti-aircraft missiles.
“Of course, it could be that Xi Jinping decides that it is a suitable time for the Chinese Communist Party to take offensive action,” Coons said of the Chinese president.
“I think it’s exactly the wrong thing they do,” Coons said. “I think they’ll find a strong, united response.”
Knickmeyer reported from Washington.
Original issue: April 18, 2025, 12:25pm EDT
