(RightWing.org) – As a highly successful business tycoon, Donald Trump understands the art of a deal. He’s even written a book about it. The former president recently spoke out about the United States’ yearlong endeavor to provide military defense to the tiny island nation of Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China, ROC). Trump suggested altering that arrangement to a new one favoring both parties.
On June 25, Trump sat down for an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. For some inexplicable reason, the media outlet waited until July 16 to air the conversation on its “Big Take Daily” podcast.
The conversation focused on the global economy and business, and the president shared his views on a wide range of topics, such as his ongoing relationship with business executives, tariffs, inflation, the Federal Reserve, and more.
The former president also spent part of the interview discussing his views on Taiwan with Businessweek Editor Brad Stone, Bloomberg Managing Editor Mario Parker, and senior reporters Joshua Green and Nancy Cook.
He was asked if he would defend Taiwan against the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The former president noted that although he respected the ROC, the country “did take about 100%” of America’s microchip business. Continuing, he said he thought, “Taiwan should pay us for defense.”
Trump explained that the United States’ support for Taiwan is “no different” than the services provided by an “insurance company.” The former president elaborated on this premise by stating that Taiwan was 9,500 miles from the US and only about 68 from the mainland China (PRC), implying that the logic behind supporting the ROC doesn’t favor American interests.
The former president said the PRC had a slight geographic advantage over the US regarding Taiwan. “China’s a massive land,” he said, adding, “They could just bomb it.”
Media outlets quickly weighed in on the response to Trump’s remarks about Taiwan paying American defense costs. The New York Post reported that the former president’s remarks prompted mixed responses. Some pointed out that the US still owed Taiwan roughly $19 billion in weapons already purchased but not yet delivered.
Trump’s comments did have an immediate impact on the share price of Taiwan chipmaker TSMC. Stock prices had already been dropping before the former president’s remarks, and the company’s CEO told investors the following day that it would continue its plans to expand its market in the US, Germany, and Japan.
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