Taiwan President Lai Ching-te expressed his gratitude for U.S. military aid on Tuesday just prior to the U.S.-China summit.
Lai thanked the U.S. for the military aid at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026. President Donald Trump authorized three military assistance packages for Taiwan totaling about $1.48 billion from July 2023 to December 2024, and the Pentagon later approved about $1.41 billion in defense articles for Taiwan, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
“Today’s world stands at a critical inflection point in the tug-of-war between democracy and authoritarianism,” Lai said during his speech at the summit. “In Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region, authoritarian regimes continue to consolidate. Through military intimidation, economic coercion, cyberattacks, and gray-zone operations, they are posing ever more serious challenges to global peace, stability, and democratic development.”
Lai said Taiwan is “on the frontlines in the defense of democracy” as he reminded the audience that his nation holds a key position on the First Island Chain.
The First Island Chain is a series of islands in the South China Sea that sit at a strategic chokepoint for trade between the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
The islands have recently been contested as the People’s Liberation Army Navy continues to build new military outposts. One key outpost located in the Paracel Island archipelago appears to be fully operational, according to satellite imagery.
The Chinese government appears to be taking a more optimistic view of the U.S.-China relationship, based on comments from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“President Xi and President Trump — looking back at their past meetings, one message stands out: the steady development of China-U.S. relations brings certainty and stability to the world,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said in a post on X.
“The United States remains committed to its one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances,” a State Department spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The United States is committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability, commensurate with the threat it faces. The reality is the threat has grown considerably.”
‘The Light Of Freedom Will Never Be Extinguished.’
Political analysts told reporters that a compromise between U.S. and Chinese interests in Iran and Taiwan is likely to be a key element of discussion between Trump and Xi at the U.S.-China summit, during a Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) press briefing on Tuesday.
“Trump will press the Chinese to help him on Iran; they’ll be unwilling,” CEPA fellow James Lewis said to reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday. “The Chinese will press Trump to make concessions on Taiwan. We’ll see what we get out of that.”
“I don’t think that the American administration is going to be dumb enough to throw Taiwan under the bus just a little bit for an empty promise from China,” CEPA fellow Reinhard Bütikofer told reporters on Tuesday. “If the Chinese want the Americans to open the Strait of Hormuz, why don’t they stop sharing intelligence with Iran? Why don’t they stop sharing drone parts with Iran? That would be an adequate deal.”
Lai also reminded the world about Taiwan’s semiconductor and chip manufacturing industry. Nearly “90% of leading-edge chip manufacturing” comes from Taiwan, according to the Department of Commerce.
These chips are important for AI development, which is becoming essential for military operations, according to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
“Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor and AI industries have been built over decades through deep and enduring trust, forged in close cooperation with the US, Japan, Europe, and many other democratic partners,” Lai said during his speech at the summit. “Going forward, Taiwan will continue to leverage its technological strengths and work with those partners to build trusted and more resilient democratic supply chains, which will contribute greatly to the security and prosperity of the global economy.”
Chinese President Xi and Trump’s meeting began Wednesday and will continue through Friday.
Chinese government officials reiterated their position on the one-China policy during a regular press conference on Monday.
“There is but one China in the world,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during the conference. “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Navy and Air Force conducted joint military operations encircling Taiwan with a ring of dummy missiles in a show of force on Dec. 30, 2025, The New York Times reported.
“While we may encounter headwinds on the path of democracy, I believe that is precisely when democratic nations will grow stronger in solidarity,” Lai said during his speech at the summit in Copenhagen. “As long as we stand together, the light of freedom will never be extinguished. Let us defend democracy together. Let us ensure that the next generation can enjoy a world that is free and open; peaceful and prosperous. Thank you.”
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