((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
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Trump troubled Taiwan with comments on chips and defense
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Taiwan spends billions of dollars on new US weapons
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China steps up military activities around Taiwan
(Added quote from Trump, paragraph 7, and comments from former US officials, paragraphs 16-18) by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee
A senior U.S. diplomat who helps manage ties with Taiwan has arrived in Taipei, the de facto U.S. embassy said Tuesday, as Taiwanese officials seek to downplay Donald Trump's latest attacks on the country's crucial needs. island when it comes to the chip industry and defense.
The United States is the most important international backer and arms supplier to Taiwan, claimed by China, despite lacking formal diplomatic ties.
The American Institute in Taiwan, which handles unofficial relations, said the executive director of its Washington office, Ingrid Larson, was traveling to Taiwan for meetings between October 28 and November 1.
This trip is part of the United States' strong commitment to Taiwan and the advancement of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership,” the institute said in a brief statement.
“While in Taiwan, she will discuss continued collaboration between the United States and Taiwan on issues of mutual interest such as regional security, mutually beneficial trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. , education and culture.”
Mr. Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, troubled Taiwan, which is democratically governed, by declaring in July and again over the weekend that Taiwan should pay the United States for its defense and that it had taken over American semiconductor companies.
“Taiwan, they stole our chip business. They want us to protect them and they want to be protected, but they're not paying us for that protection,” Trump said on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. ” over the weekend.
American Depositary Receipts from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co 2330.TW, the world's largest chipmaker and a major supplier to companies such as Nvidia
NVDA.O , closed down 4.3% on Monday, while on Tuesday its Taipei-listed shares were down more than 2% after Mr Trump's comments.
Taiwanese Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai, when asked about Trump's latest comments on Tuesday, struck a diplomatic tone, saying Taiwan's ties with the United States are based on being democratic allies sharing the same state of spirit.
“I also think that the major American political parties have an absolutely high degree of consensus on understanding the relationship between the United States and Taiwan,” he said.
Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei told reporters he respected the remarks of “international friends.”
“Relations between the United States and Taiwan have developed steadily over time, and both sides share the same attitude toward Taiwan,” Kuo said.
Taiwan does not have a formal defense treaty with the United States, but it has ordered billions of dollars in weapons and has repeatedly said it is committed to spending more money on its military.
The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
Taiwan received significant support from the Trump administration for the 2017-2021 period, particularly regarding arms sales, which continued under the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Mr Trump spoke to Taiwan's then-President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, shortly after her election victory, which angered Beijing as the US did not officially recognize the government of Taiwan, and the jubilation of Taipei.
But with China's military activities around Taiwan intensifying, including a new round of war games earlier this month, Taipei is nervously watching what a new Trump administration would mean, especially given the close polling of opinion.
In the past three months, two former senior Trump administration officials have visited Taiwan, Kelly Craft and Nikki Haley, both of whom served as his ambassadors to the United Nations.
“Trump is going to expect certain things from our friends and allies around the world, especially friends like Taiwan who are under threat. He will expect you to pull your weight as a security partner,” Craft said. at a security forum held in Taipei last month.
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