Taiwan should pass its special defense budget prior to the U.S. president’s planned trip to China later this month to demonstrate commitment to its own defense, according to former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Heino Klinck. The continued delay in passing a proposed eight-year US$40 billion defense spending bill currently stalled in Taiwan’s opposition-led Legislature could, he warned, have a “negative impact” on American support.

Klinck told reporters at a small media gathering in Taipei on Thursday, April 30, that Taiwan faces an “existential threat” from China that has become bigger in recent years. The former U.S. official, who oversaw U.S. defense policy in the East Asia region from August 2019 to January 2021, said: “I don't think Taiwan has the luxury of time.”

Klinck said Taiwan has limited influence over relations between Washington and Beijing. “By not passing the budget prior to President Trump's visit to China, it is basically abdicating what little agency it has,” he said. “The budgets need to be passed prior to the U.S. president going to China.”

Defense spending, Klinck said, enhances deterrence and “will also signal to the Chinese that if they want to use force against Taiwan, Taiwan will not be an easy target.” There should not be any partisanship in national defense, he said.

Klinck said Taiwan should prioritize integrated air and missile defense systems, stockpile munitions and expand domestic defense production, which he said would also be an investment in Taiwan’s own economy. He noted that delays in arms deliveries from the U.S. are a problem but that reforms are underway.