Taiwan is closely observing as the United States under President Trump’s leadership shifts its stance towards Ukraine, potentially forcing the country to reevaluate its own political future. Taiwan, similar to Ukraine, is a small democracy that faces pressure and territorial claims from its authoritarian neighbors.
In response to this changing international landscape, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has been taking steps to maintain good relations with the US. Earlier this month, he announced that the country would increase its military expenditure and also intended to introduce proposals for constructing more semiconductor fabrication plants in the US, in line with Trump’s demand.
As China continues to increase its military presence near Taiwan by sending fighter jets and warships, the island nation’s ability to prevent a potential attack highly depends on whether the US will be able to provide aid and military support. This makes the commitment of the US to Taiwanese democracy questionable, and there are concerns that Trump might jeopardize Taiwan’s interests in order to secure a trade deal with China.
In a related development, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain announced yesterday that the country would significantly increase its military spending by 2027. This move was intended to signal to Trump, ahead of their meeting at the White House, the importance of sharing the burden of defense among allies. The increase, however, would be funded by reducing overseas development aid.
The context of Trump’s recent statements about Ukraine has led to concerns that the US might be distancing itself from its long-standing commitment to Europe’s defense. NATO’s secretary-general has also urged member countries to increase their defense spending beyond 3% of their economic output.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, called for national unity during a two-day conference in Damascus aimed at charting the country’s future after decades of dictatorship. The gathering brought together various religious sects and ethnic groups, but the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed militia, were absent as they were asked to disarm and join a unified national military before attending the dialogue.
In the realm of literature, the majority of books nominated for this year’s International Booker Prize are under 200 pages in length. The judging panel chair explained that this is because the 13 nominees are the best books and “don’t have a wasted word”. Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who attempted to protect President John F. Kennedy during his assassination, has passed away at the age of 93.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/briefing/taiwan-us-britain-military-spending-syria-unity.html
