Taiwan's foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, emphasized the island's need for self-reliance in defense after US presidential candidate Donald Trump insisted Taipei should pay Washington for protection in a conflict with China. Lin highlighted China's growing military threat and Taiwan's increased defense budget, which has risen from 2% to 2.5% of GDP over eight years. Despite Trump's remarks casting doubt on US-Taiwan relations, Lin stressed the importance of demonstrating Taiwan's determination and capability to deter any potential aggression from China.
