Taiwan’s leader says US arms sales, security cooperation key to peace

Taipei: US arms sales and island democracy and security cooperation are “key elements” of regional peace, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday.

“Continuing US arms sales to Taiwan and deepening Taiwan-US security cooperation are not only necessary, but also essential elements in maintaining regional peace and stability,” Lai said in a statement on Facebook. he said.

Taiwan relies heavily on U.S. security support to deter China from carrying out its threat to annex the island by force.
In his Facebook post, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is “at the center” of global interests and that “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will never be sacrificed or traded.”

Lai’s comments came just days after US President Donald Trump said further arms sales to Taiwan were “up to China” and were “a very good negotiating chip for us”.