Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Lai said Taiwan’s efforts to safeguard its security, democratic system and way of life should not be viewed as a provocation toward Beijing. He reiterated that the island rejects unification under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party and remains committed to enhancing its self-defense capabilities.

The request comes as Washington reviews the proposed arms package, which includes advanced U.S.-developed weapons systems. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month that the proposal remained under consideration, while American officials have also assessed the impact of overseas military commitments on available weapons stockpiles.

The United States maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and is legally obligated under domestic legislation to provide the island with defensive capabilities, despite formally recognizing Beijing as the sole government of China. Arms sales to Taiwan remain one of the most contentious issues in U.S.-China relations.

Responding to Lai’s remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said attempts to pursue independence through U.S. support or military means were destined to fail. He accused Taiwan’s leadership of escalating regional tensions and dismissed Taipei’s defense initiatives.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that it reserves the right to use force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that its future should be determined by its people.

Lai’s administration has pledged to raise defense spending above 3 percent of gross domestic product this year. The government has proposed a broader defense procurement plan worth approximately NT$1.25 trillion ($40 billion), including purchases of American weaponry, domestically produced drones and other military equipment.

However, the proposal has faced resistance in Taiwan’s legislature. Opposition parties, which hold a majority of seats, approved a reduced special defense budget last month worth about $25 billion, cutting roughly one-third of the funding requested by the government.

In a move aimed at addressing capability gaps, Taiwan’s cabinet on Thursday approved an additional NT$210 billion ($6.6 billion) for indigenous unmanned systems. The defense ministry has argued that the reduced budget approved by lawmakers would be insufficient to fully achieve planned force modernization goals.

Lai also accused China of increasing pressure on neighboring countries, including Japan and the Philippines, amid maritime disputes in waters east of Taiwan. His comments followed recent announcements by Tokyo and Manila that they would begin formal negotiations to delimit maritime boundaries between their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.

China has opposed those talks and continues to assert broad claims across the East and South China Seas. Lai said Beijing’s military activities and coercive actions in the Taiwan Strait and wider Indo-Pacific region were expanding, raising concerns among regional governments.

Japan and the Philippines have strengthened security cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns over China’s maritime claims and growing military presence across disputed waters.

Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, said in a post on X that the deployment had taken place over the past few days following U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Wu said China was undermining the status quo and threatening peace and stability in the region.

A Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Chinese vessels had been detected before the Beijing summit but that the number operating in the region had risen above 100 in recent days.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly stated that it reserves the right to use force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only its people can determine the island’s future.The reported increase in Chinese maritime activity came days after Trump referred to “the Taiwan problem” when asked whether he would discuss arms sales with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

Trump said he would speak with Lai and noted that he had held what he described as a productive meeting with Xi during his state visit to China.“We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem,” Trump said on Wednesday.

Taiwan has frequently reported heightened Chinese military and coast guard operations around the island, activities that Taipei says are aimed at increasing pressure on its government and testing regional security responses.

The latest deployment, according to Taiwanese officials, extended across multiple strategic waterways in East Asia, underscoring Beijing’s expanding maritime presence at a time of heightened geopolitical scrutiny in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding seas.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he intended to speak with Lai as his administration considers potential arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governed island claimed by China.

A direct conversation between sitting presidents of the United States and Taiwan would be unprecedented since Washington formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 under the “One China” policy framework.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Lai remained committed to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and described China as “the disruptor of peace and stability.”

Lai would be “happy to discuss these matters with President Trump,” the ministry said in a statement.
“I’ll speak to him. I speak to everybody,” Trump said, adding that he had held productive discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing last week.

“We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem,” Trump said.
The remarks came after Trump suggested that future U.S. arms sales to Taiwan could become part of broader negotiations with Beijing, raising concerns in Taipei over Washington’s long-term security commitments.

Taiwan’s government has since sought to reassure domestic and international audiences that U.S. policy toward the island remains unchanged and that Trump made no commitments to China regarding military support for Taipei.

Taiwan relies heavily on U.S. security backing to deter potential military action from China, which considers the island part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to bring it under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary.

Taipei has also faced sustained pressure from Washington to increase defense spending and expand investment in American industries as part of closer economic and strategic coordination.

Trump previously disrupted diplomatic convention in 2016 when, as president-elect, he accepted a phone call from then Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing and surprising foreign policy officials in both Washington and Asia.

Speaking at a news conference in Taipei marking two years since taking office, Lai said Taiwan remained committed to maintaining the status quo while accusing Beijing of escalating military pressure across the Indo-Pacific region.

“My government is committed to maintaining the status quo, and Taiwan is also a guardian of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Lai said.

“China is the one undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he added, citing Beijing’s expanding military exercises and deployments extending into the western Pacific.

The remarks came after Trump suggested last week that future US arms sales to Taiwan could serve as a bargaining tool in negotiations with China following meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump also indicated he was considering whether to hold direct talks with Lai, which would mark a significant break from decades of US diplomatic practice.

Washington shifted formal diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, and no direct conversation between sitting US and Taiwanese presidents has occurred since then.

Lai said communication channels between Taipei and Washington remained open and that he would use any opportunity to convey the views of Taiwanese society directly to the US administration.

“The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent country,” Lai said, using Taiwan’s formal constitutional name.

“No country has the right to annex Taiwan. The people of Taiwan pursue a democratic and free way of life.”
Lai also defended Taiwan’s continued purchases of US weapons systems, describing military procurement as necessary to preserve peace and deterrence across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has increased defense spending amid rising Chinese military activity around the island and continued pressure from Washington for Taipei to assume greater responsibility for its own defense.
In Beijing, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed Lai’s comments, accusing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of destabilizing the region.

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Taiwan could not prevent what she described as the “historical trend” of reunification with the mainland.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, though it continues to publicly advocate what it calls “peaceful reunification.”

Taiwan recently reported increased Chinese military operations near the island and published rare images of Chinese fighter aircraft and naval vessels operating in nearby waters.

Lai reiterated that Taiwan’s future could only be decided by its people and said Taipei remained willing to engage in dialogue with Beijing on the basis of equality and dignity.

The remarks came after Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the US president acknowledged uncertainty over future military sales to Taiwan, raising questions about Washington’s security commitment to the self-governed island claimed by China.

Despite having no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States remains Taipei’s most significant international supporter and is required under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive weapons.

Karen Kuo, spokesperson for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, said China’s intensifying military activities represented the main destabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait.

“Military sales between Taiwan and the US are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a mutual deterrence against regional threats,” Kuo said in a statement.She added that Taiwan appreciated Trump’s continued support for stability in the Taiwan Strait and would continue strengthening cooperation with Washington.

Reuters previously reported that a proposed second US arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $14 billion remains pending approval after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion package in December.

Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to comment directly on the pending sale, saying discussions remained ongoing with Washington.Taiwan’s government has also struggled to secure passage of a broader $40 billion defense spending proposal through an opposition-controlled parliament.

Earlier this month lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the requested budget, specifically allocating it for US arms procurement.US lawmakers from both major parties have urged the administration to continue supporting Taiwan militarily amid growing pressure from Beijing.

Trump also suggested he could speak directly with Lai regarding the proposed sale, telling reporters after his meeting with Xi that he needed to talk with “the person that’s running Taiwan.”Chen said Taipei was still trying to determine the “true intent” behind Trump’s comments.

A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously because of the issue’s sensitivity, said arms discussions should involve Taiwan rather than Beijing.China has increased military operations around Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

Beijing rejects Lai’s government and labels him a separatist.Kuo reiterated Taiwan’s position that the Republic of China, the island’s formal name, is “a sovereign, independent democratic country,” dismissing Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

The remarks introduced fresh uncertainty into Washington’s long-standing security support for Taiwan following Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.

Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the United States remains the island’s principal international backer and is legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive weapons.

In a statement, spokesperson Karen Kuo for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said China’s growing military pressure represented the primary destabilizing factor in the Indo-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait.

“Military sales between Taiwan and the US are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also serve as a mutual deterrence against regional threats,” Kuo said.

Taiwan thanked Trump for what Kuo described as his continued support for security in the Taiwan Strait and said Taipei would continue strengthening cooperation with Washington.

Reuters previously reported that a second US arms package for Taiwan valued at around $14 billion remains pending presidential approval after the Trump administration approved a record $11 billion package in December.

Speaking in Taipei, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi declined to comment directly on the pending package because it has not been formally announced, but said Taiwan remained in communication with US officials.

Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament has delayed the government’s broader effort to secure an additional $40 billion in defense spending. Earlier this month lawmakers approved roughly two-thirds of the requested amount, earmarking it specifically for US arms purchases.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Washington have publicly urged the Trump administration to maintain weapons sales to Taiwan amid growing Chinese military activity near the island.

Trump also suggested after meeting Xi that he could speak directly with Lai regarding the proposed arms sale, saying he would need to talk with “the person … that’s running Taiwan.”

Chen said Taipei was still attempting to understand the “true intent” behind Trump’s comments.
A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, said discussions over arms sales should involve Taiwan rather than Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has rejected repeated offers of talks from Lai, whom Chinese officials label a separatist.
Kuo reiterated Taiwan’s long-standing position that the Republic of China, Taiwan’s formal name, is “a sovereign, independent democratic country.”

Chinese military operations around Taiwan continued during Trump’s visit to Beijing, according to Taiwanese officials, as tensions over the island’s future remained a central flashpoint in US-China relations.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked Washington for reaffirming that U.S. policy toward the self-governed island remained unchanged, following remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Trump’s state visit to China.In a statement, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed appreciation for repeated U.S. statements emphasizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry also accused Beijing of continuing military intimidation around the island through regular naval and air operations.“This demonstrates that Beijing is a major risk to current regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.Taiwan has emerged as the central flashpoint in increasingly strained U.S.-China relations, with Beijing claiming the democratically governed island as its territory and refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve unification.

Xi warned Trump during Thursday’s meeting that mishandling Taiwan-related disputes could push bilateral relations into a “dangerous place,” according to Chinese officials familiar with the talks.Rubio later told NBC News that it would be a “terrible mistake” for China to use force against Taiwan, reiterating Washington’s longstanding position supporting the island’s ability to defend itself.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu endorsed Rubio’s comments in a post on X, stating that Taiwan was determined to “defend the status quo and deter aggression.”Taiwan’s defense ministry said seven Chinese warships were operating around the island during the previous 24 hours, although no Chinese military aircraft were detected.

A senior Taiwanese security official said the island occupied a critical position within the so-called “first island chain,” a strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines that is viewed by Washington and its allies as central to Indo-Pacific security.

Taipei is also closely monitoring whether Beijing increases military deployments following the Trump-Xi summit and ahead of the second anniversary next week of President Lai Ching-te taking office, the official said.China’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The latest exchanges underscore how Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive and potentially destabilizing issues between Washington and Beijing despite efforts by both governments to stabilize broader ties through diplomacy and trade engagement.

Lai Ching-te welcomed Pena with military honors at the presidential office in Taipei, including a ceremonial parade and cannon salute, before bilateral talks focused on political and economic cooperation.“Taiwan and Paraguay are partners firmly committed to the values of democracy, freedom and human rights,” Lai said during the ceremony, thanking Paraguay for supporting Taiwan’s participation on the international stage.

Pena reaffirmed Paraguay’s diplomatic backing for Taiwan, describing the relationship as a strategic alliance grounded in shared democratic principles.“Paraguay deeply values this relationship and reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting Taiwan,” Pena said.

Taiwan currently maintains formal diplomatic relations with only 12 countries after decades of pressure from China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any official recognition of the island’s government.Beijing has steadily persuaded countries to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing through economic and political incentives, reducing Taiwan’s international footprint, particularly in Latin America and the Pacific.

Pena’s delegation includes senior government officials and business representatives, reflecting efforts to deepen trade, investment and technological cooperation between the two sides.

Since arriving on Thursday, Pena has met Taiwan’s vice president and cabinet officials and received an honorary doctorate from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, which he described as a symbol of the countries’ “solid alliance.”The visit comes shortly after Lai returned from a diplomatic trip to Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole diplomatic ally in Africa.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry recently accused China of pressuring Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke overflight permissions for Lai’s original itinerary to Eswatini, forcing him to alter travel arrangements and use the aircraft of Eswatini’s king.

Lai’s administration has sought to strengthen ties with remaining diplomatic partners while expanding informal relations with Western democracies, particularly the United States and European countries.Taiwan’s last major overseas diplomatic tour took place in November 2024, when Lai visited Pacific allies and transited through Guam, a U.S. territory.

Reports last year suggested the administration of Donald Trump denied Lai permission to transit through New York during a planned Latin America trip, though Taiwan’s foreign ministry denied those claims.

Speaking to reporters at Taipei’s international airport, Lai said Taiwanese people “have the right to engage with the world,” after traveling aboard a plane provided by King Mswati III.

The visit marked a diplomatic outreach to Taiwan’s only remaining African ally.The trip had initially been scheduled for April 22 to 26 to attend the 40th anniversary of the king’s accession and his 58th birthday but was postponed after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permits, according to a senior aide, citing what was described as intense pressure from Beijing.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, opposes the self-governed island’s participation in international organizations and its official exchanges with other governments. Beijing has repeatedly sought to limit Taipei’s diplomatic space, particularly in regions where it maintains influence.

The United States criticized China’s actions after the delay of Lai’s initial travel, describing them as part of an “intimidation campaign.” Beijing rejected the comments, with its foreign ministry calling them “baseless accusations.”Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic relations with a small number of countries, with Eswatini remaining its sole ally in Africa.

The visit comes as Taipei continues efforts to sustain and expand its international engagement in the face of increasing geopolitical pressure.

Lai announced his arrival in a Facebook post, saying he had received a warm welcome despite the delay. “Although we are a few days late, the people of Eswatini have still given us the warmest and most enthusiastic welcome,” he wrote.

Taiwan’s government said in April that Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar had unilaterally revoked flight permits for Lai’s aircraft to cross airspace under their control during a planned trip to Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic allies.

Taipei blamed Beijing for pressuring the three countries, though China did not publicly comment on the allegation. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any official exchanges between Taipei and countries maintaining diplomatic ties with the island.

Lai said Eswatini had remained firm despite diplomatic and economic pressure and had continued to support Taiwan’s international participation through “concrete actions.”Eswatini is the only African nation that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, making the visit symbolically significant as Beijing continues efforts to isolate Taipei on the global stage.