US Skepticism: Why Do Doubts Persist, Despite Record Military Support to Taiwan? | Taiwan Talks

Описание: US President Donald Trump says that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not inform him in advanced of Justice Mission 2025, one of the People’s Liberation Army’s largest-ever military drills around Taiwan. The drills were accompanied by warnings by China’s Foreign Ministry against “external forces” meddling in the Taiwan Strait. Trump’s seemingly unconcerned response raised questions about Washington’s commitment to assisting Taiwan in the event of a potential PLA blockade or invasion. But is this skepticism justified? In an interview with the Liberty Times, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said the US commitment to Taiwan has grown stronger, not weaker. Indeed, the Trump Administration recently approved a US$11.1 billion weapons package, while Congress has approved up to one billion more for enhanced security cooperation in its annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In this episode, we discuss the PLA exercise, China’s threats to Taiwan, and the US-Taiwan defense partnership.

*Recorded on December 30, 2025 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time

Host: Ethan Liu
Producer: Chinyeh Chiang

Our guests:

Hung-Jen Wang
National Cheng Kung University Political Science Professor

Chih-Yung Ho
National Tsing Hua University Center for General Education Adjunct Assistant Professor

Chapters:
00:00:00 - China Drills Near Taiwan Amid US skepticism
00:02:30 - Beijing Cites ‘External Forces’ To Justify Drills
00:08:57 - US Backs Up Taiwan Rhetoric With Military Aid
00:18:35 - Why Is Taiwan So Important?