U.S. Urges Taiwan to Boost Defense Spending Over China Threat

A top U.S. defense official on Tuesday said the Obama administration has urged Taiwan to increase its defense spending in light of threats from China and uncertainty over President-elect Donald Trump’s first moves in office. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Abraham Denmark said at a forum in Washington that the administration’s One-China policy remains unchanged, but “defense resourcing is critical” since China has threatened to take Taiwan back by force if necessary, Reuters reported. “Taiwan’s defense budget has not kept pace with the threat developments and should be increased,” Denmark said. His warning comes after Trump stirred controversy and angered Beijing by breaking with decades of diplomatic protocol and talking to Taiwan’s leader by phone. Trump has continued to butt heads with Chinese leaders since the provocative phone call, with Beijing warning Tuesday that any violation of its One-China policy “will seriously affect peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”