{"id":42456,"date":"2026-02-24T12:03:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/?p=42456"},"modified":"2026-03-01T22:17:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T20:17:56","slug":"taipei-under-crossfire-dramatic-developments-amid-taiwans-defense-buildup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/taipei-under-crossfire-dramatic-developments-amid-taiwans-defense-buildup\/","title":{"rendered":"Taipei Under Crossfire: Dramatic Developments Amid Taiwan\u2019s Defense Buildup"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"42456\" class=\"elementor elementor-42456\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a1f881c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1a1f881c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a7ddce2\" data-id=\"2a7ddce2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a5482cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a5482cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-no-translation=\"\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Photo: Unsplash<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7af1ff7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7af1ff7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-no-translation=\"\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>.elementor-element-7af1ff7{display:none !important}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6cf488af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6cf488af\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-30c340e0\" data-id=\"30c340e0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ac642f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ac642f8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-no-translation=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7079d397\" data-id=\"7079d397\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76e00406 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76e00406\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is happening?<\/h2><p>The <strong>political<\/strong> and <strong>security partnership<\/strong> between Washington and Taipei is entering a <strong>turbulent<\/strong> and potentially <strong>precedent-setting phase<\/strong>. The United States and Taiwan have <a href=\"https:\/\/ustr.gov\/about\/policy-offices\/press-office\/fact-sheets\/2026\/february\/fact-sheet-us-taiwan-agreement-reciprocal-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">signed<\/a> a <strong>new trade agreement<\/strong> that reshapes their economic-security ties, while Washington is reportedly preparing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/06e27fb5-bc9e-4b3d-ac20-7b54757e044e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>record-breaking arms sale<\/strong><\/a> that could reach $20 billion. Yet implementation faces obstacles: Taiwan\u2019s opposition-controlled parliament has stalled defense funding, and <strong>Beijing is <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602180005\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>exerting<\/strong><\/a><strong> direct pressure on President Donald Trump<\/strong>. On the contrary, the Americans are urging Taiwanese opposition lawmakers to swiftly approve the special defense budget. The outcome may redefine the triangular dynamics among Washington, Taipei, and Beijing \u2013 with lasting implications for regional stability in East Asia.<\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2>What is the broader picture?<\/h2><p>The newly signed <a href=\"https:\/\/ustr.gov\/about\/policy-offices\/press-office\/fact-sheets\/2026\/february\/fact-sheet-us-taiwan-agreement-reciprocal-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trade agreement<\/a> between Taipei and Washington reduces sweeping tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the US <strong>from 20 percent to 15 percent<\/strong>, the same rate as other key U.S. regional allies, such as South Korea and Japan. Moreover, more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/us-taiwan-finalize-deal-cut-tariffs-boost-purchases-us-goods-2026-02-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">than 2,000 specific export items<\/a> are exempted from this rate, which analysts estimate could reduce the effective average tariff burden to approximately 12.3 percent. In return, Taipei has committed to significant concessions. These include the near-complete elimination of import tariffs on selected U.S. agricultural products, the removal of non-tariff barriers affecting the U.S. automotive industry, and a pledge to purchase approximately $80 billion worth of American goods and commodities \u2013 particularly machinery, oil, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The agreement also includes up to <strong>$600 billion<\/strong> in <strong>investment commitments by Taiwanese technology firms on US soil<\/strong>, particularly in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence development, and other high-tech sectors.<\/p><p>The agreement showcases the emergence of interdependence between economic and security affairs in Taiwan-US ties. The White House aims to <strong>relocate as much industrial production as possible, <\/strong>including <strong>advanced semiconductors<\/strong>, <strong>back to U.S. territory,<\/strong> diversify supply chains, and reduce both its own and its regional allies\u2019 dependence on the PRC. In exchange, Taiwan is set to receive additional critical arms deliveries and a deeper, multi-layered integration with its principal security provider.<\/p><p>The process, however, faces significant political obstacles. An opposition majority in the Legislative Yuan, composed of lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People\u2019s Party (TPP) has long blocked the President William Lai\u2019s (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) proposed <strong>special defense budget of nearly $40 billion<\/strong>. The opposition has lately submitted alternative proposals amounting to less than <strong>one-third of that figure<\/strong> \u2013 levels insufficient to build the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/chinaobservers.eu\/the-porcupine-strategy-taiwans-road-to-self-defense\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">porcupine\u201d defense capabilities<\/a> necessary to credibly deter a conventional attack from mainland China.<\/p><p>The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) intends to allocate part of the proposed defense budget to finance large acquisitions from the US. As a result, the parliamentary impasse in Taiwan drew the <strong>attention of U.S. lawmakers.<\/strong> More than 30 influential congressmen recently <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602130014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sent a joint letter<\/a> to leaders of Taiwan\u2019s opposition, urging them to approve the president\u2019s proposed defense expenditures in light of the increasingly severe threat from the opposite side of the strait. They also pledged to address the <strong>critical issue of <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/asia.nikkei.com\/politics\/international-relations\/taiwan-tensions\/us-arms-shipment-backlog-to-taiwan-tops-20bn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>U.S. arms shipment backlogs<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 one of the opposition\u2019s principal arguments against the DPP\u2019s approach. Last week, Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (\u97d3\u570b\u745c), likely in response to U.S. pressure, <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602160010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated<\/a> that once parliament reconvenes after the Lunar New Year recess, he will prioritize the debate of the <strong>defense budget.<\/strong> A breakthrough may therefore be imminent, with the <strong>special defense budget potentially approved<\/strong> \u2013 albeit likely in a partially reduced form.<\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2>Why does it matter?<\/h2><p>Beijing has directly entered the equation. According to multiple reports, <strong>Xi Jinping <\/strong>(\u7fd2\u8fd1\u5e73)<strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>personally <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602090004\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>warned<\/strong><\/a><strong> Donald Trump<\/strong> that a record-level arms sale to Taiwan could damage U.S.-China relations and complicate a planned presidential visit to Beijing. Trump later <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602180005\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">acknowledged<\/a> he was \u201ctalking about it,\u201d prompting concern in Washington and Taipei that U.S.\u2013China consultations on Taiwan\u2019s defense \u2013 <strong>long rejected under the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/IF11665\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Six Assurances<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 could become normalized. That doctrine commits the United States to making arms sales decisions independently, without prior approval from Beijing. Any erosion of this principle would set a <strong>significant<\/strong>, potentially <strong>destabilizing precedent<\/strong>. A newly introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602180005\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bill<\/a> in Congress seeks to codify this policy into law, though doing so <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202602180005\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">may also be problematic<\/a> in some aspects. Ultimately, the scale of the arms package and the fate of Taiwan\u2019s defense budget will serve as <strong>a litmus test for the durability of the Washington\u2013Taipei partnership<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo: Unsplash Foto: Unsplash What is happening? The political and security partnership between Washington and Taipei is entering a turbulent and potentially precedent-setting phase. The United States and Taiwan have signed a new trade agreement that reshapes their economic-security ties, while Washington is reportedly preparing a record-breaking arms sale that could reach $20 billion. Yet [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":42458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[500],"tags":[552],"class_list":["post-42456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-ondrej-malek"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Taipei Under Crossfire: Dramatic Developments Amid Taiwan\u2019s Defense Buildup - European Values Center for Security Policy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/taipei-under-crossfire-dramatic-developments-amid-taiwans-defense-buildup\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Taipei Under Crossfire: Dramatic Developments Amid Taiwan\u2019s Defense Buildup - European Values Center for Security Policy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Photo: Unsplash Foto: Unsplash What is happening? 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