US President Donald Trump said a potential mainland Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a "catastrophic" situation, while Taiwan said the US would not abandon the Asia-Pacific region.
"Obviously it would be a catastrophic event," President Trump said of a potential mainland Chinese attack on Taiwan as he announced a new investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), according to AFP. Mr Trump said TSMC would invest "at least" $100 billion in the US to build "state-of-the-art" chip manufacturing facilities.
There is currently no information about China's reaction to President Trump's statement.
Taiwanese soldiers with CM-34 armored vehicles participate in a military exercise in Hsinchu City on January 7.
Earlier, on February 26, Mr. Trump refused to answer whether his administration would act to protect Taiwan against any possible attack from mainland China, according to the South China Morning Post .
President Trump made the above new statement in the context of Taiwan's concerns about Washington's security commitment after a fierce argument between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on February 28 brought Washington-Kyiv relations to a new low.
Trump maintains 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan, mentions 'good relationship' with President Xi Jinping
However, Taiwan's Defense Minister Gu Li-hung said on March 3 that Washington cannot abandon the Indo-Pacific because the region is part of the US's "core national interests," according to Reuters. Gu stressed that "using deterrence and strength to achieve peace" is a long-standing consensus between Taipei and Washington, and that stability in the region is important to the US, both economically and geopolitically.
The United States is Taiwan's most important backer and arms supplier, although Washington and Taipei have no formal diplomatic relations.
Taiwan received support from the first Trump administration. However, Taiwan was concerned when Trump, during the election campaign, called on Taiwan to pay more for US security guarantees, according to Reuters.
Taiwan has repeatedly vowed to increase military spending, and Mr. Gu revealed that there are ongoing discussions with Washington on the arms procurement process, according to AFP.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tsmc-dau-tu-100-ti-usd-vao-my-dai-loan-noi-my-se-khong-bo-indo-pacific-185250304150417716.htm
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