[Source/Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] As the China-US trade friction temporarily "freezes", US President Trump attempts to play the "Taiwan card" again.

On the 30th, Reuters cited two US officials as saying that the US plans to increase arms sales to Taiwan to exceed the level during Trump's first term in office to strengthen deterrence against mainland China. Meanwhile, the US side is pressuring the opposition party in Taiwan to demand that they "get out of the way" in increasing defense budgets.

According to reports, anonymous US officials said they expect the scale of arms sales to Taiwan over the next four years may "easily exceed" that of Trump's first term. According to data from the Cato Institute, the total amount of arms sales to Taiwan during Trump's first term was $18.335 billion (approximately RMB 131.8 billion).

Officials said that government officials and Trump himself are committed to "strengthening substantive deterrence for Taiwan."

"This is the position of the president and our shared position," an official revealed. The US is closely cooperating with the Taiwan region to prepare for a new round of arms procurement plan, which will be officially launched after the Taiwan region completes its budget arrangements.

In February, Reuters reported that the DPP authorities were negotiating with the US to purchase military equipment worth $7 billion to $10 billion to seek support from the Trump administration. It was reported that the new arms sales plan would focus on cost-effective equipment such as missiles, ammunition, and drones to enhance Taiwan's ability to respond to military pressure from mainland China.

Currently, Taiwan's defense budget accounts for about 2.45% of GDP. In February, Lai Qingde stated that special budgets would be prioritized to raise defense spending to more than 3% of GDP.

Lai Qingde, Reuters

"We are sending a tough signal to the opposition parties: get out of the way. This is not a partisan issue in Taiwan," a US official told Reuters.

Three people familiar with the situation confirmed that the US government and US congressional delegations have been pressuring the opposition parties to prevent them from blocking increased defense spending in Taiwan.

One of the sources said, "As long as they know there are members of the opposition in the room, they directly ask the latter not to cut the budget."

Huang Jiezhen, director of international affairs at the Kuomintang, said that the party "undoubtedly" firmly supports increasing defense budgets and has "opened the door for consultations" with the US government and the DPP authorities in power.

He added, "Supporting an increase in the budget does not mean acting as a rubber stamp, nor does it rule out adjustments or negotiations on the special budget proposals put forward by the DPP authorities."

The People's Party said that the party "always maintains smooth communication with the US side and continues to engage in in-depth dialogue on defense and regional security issues."

In response to the Trump administration's plan to expand arms sales to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized at a regular press conference on May 30 that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the Taiwan question is the first inviolable red line in China-US relations. China firmly opposes arms sales to the Taiwan region by the United States and urges the US side to adhere to the one-China principle and the three joint communiqués between China and the US, especially the August 17 Communiqué, to stop arms sales to Taiwan and stop creating factors of tension in the Taiwan Strait. China's determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.

This article is an exclusive article by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510139954048254518/

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