Why Trump’s Taiwan Military Aid Isn’t What Washington Post Headline Claims
Taiwan unveiled its first air defense missile system and a new low-cost cruise missile, the Barracuda-500, coproduced by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and US company Anduril Industries. This tech breakthrough comes amid contradictory statements about the future of US defense policy. A Washington Post report, disputed by the White House, says US President Donald Trump nixed US$400 million in military aid to Taiwan ahead of talks with China. However, Administration officials in July called for Congress to double its 2026 budget for military aid to Taiwan to US$1 billion. Who is calling the shots in the White House? And what does ‘America First’ mean for Taiwan? In this week’s show, our guests discuss Taiwan’s domestic arms industry, US military support, and the consequences for Taiwan’s defense against a potential China threat. *Recorded on September 23, 2025 at 3:00pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Yin Khvat Our guests: Chen Fang-yu - Soochow University Political Science Assistant Professor Chenlung Kuo - United Daily News Deputy Editor-in-Chief
