Taiwan’s NSB Notes Incoming Trump’s Cabinet of “China Hawks”
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump seems to be appointing key posts in his administration based on the principles of “America first” and “containing China,” Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said on November 14.
Some of the top positions in Trump’s incoming administration will be filled by figures known for their hawkish views on China, signaling a tough line on Beijing in areas ranging from national security to trade.
Trump has nominated U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) as his secretary of state and picked U.S. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL), a retired Green Beret and a known China hawk, as his national security adviser.
Rubio is known for his strong support for Taiwan and hardline policies on China. He has proposed several pro-Taiwan bills, such as the Taiwan Representative Office Act, the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, the Taiwan Peace through Strength Act, and the Taiwan Protection and National Resilience Act.
The incoming Trump administration could propose a comprehensive strategy targeting China, from geopolitics, economic decoupling, supply chain security, and export restrictions, Taiwan’s NSB Director-General Tsai said.
On Taiwan-U.S. relations under Trump’s second presidency, Tsai said Taiwan will maximize the shared interests between both countries to continue promoting strategic cooperation.
The main goal for Taiwan would be to show the U.S. and the international community that it is an indispensable partner in terms of economics, trade, and security — and not someone that does nothing and “enjoys the fruits of other’s labor,” Tsai added.
He also noted that the Taiwanese and U.S. governments have enjoyed solid collaboration for decades.
The Taiwanese government has expressed gratitude to outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden for his support for Taiwan over the past four years and is looking forward to working with Trump over the next four years, Tsai added.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
Taiwan Receives First Batch of Long-Range ATACMS Missiles from U.S.
Taiwan has received its first batch of U.S.-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a maximum range of 300 kilometers, an unnamed military source told CNA on November 9, without disclosing the number of units delivered.
The ATACMS is a supersonic tactical ballistic missile whose longest-range variant can fly up to 300 kilometers (190 miles). It can be fired from the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
The MGM-140 ATACMS would equip Taiwan’s military with the capability to counter a Chinese attack because it could hit targets in China should the Chinese military launch an invasion, said Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at the government-funded Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR).
The U.S. has given the same weapon system to Ukraine, and it has proven effective in enabling Ukraine to strike Russian-occupied territory from afar, Su said.
The recent shipment is part of the 11 sets of M142 HIMARS launchers and 64 ATACMS missiles the U.S. approved for sale to Taiwan in October 2020 under the previous Donald Trump administration.
Taiwan later ordered an additional 18 sets of HIMARS and 20 ATACMS missiles, bringing the total to 29 HIMARS launchers and 84 ATACMS missiles. The procurement also included 864 M30 and M31 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets with a much shorter maximum range of 94km. The second batch is expected to be delivered by 2026.
Taiwan’s military recently confirmed that the first batch of 11 sets of HIMARS launchers arrived in Taiwan in October 2024.
The early delivery of long-range MGM-140 ATACM missiles reflected the U.S.’ strategy to counter Chinese coercion by helping Taiwan bolster its capacity to strike targets within China’s national borders, a military source said.
