Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an on potential Trump-Lai call: 'Many uncertainties'

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an attended a Taipei City Council session today for a special report. (Photo by Fang Binzhao)

U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that he would discuss military sales issues with individuals including President Lai Ching-te, and the timing of a call between Trump and Lai has drawn public attention. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, responding to an inquiry from City Councilor Xu Lixin at the council today (22nd), stated that there are still many uncertain factors and hypothetical situations, and the current information remains unverified.

Chiang Wan-an attended the council this morning to deliver special reports on various policies, including a smoke-free city and school lunch programs. Xu Lixin, who was the first to question, asked Chiang Wan-an for his views on the Trump-Lai call that the whole world is watching, and whether there would be pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. Chiang Wan-an replied that there are currently many uncertain factors and nothing is confirmed. He added that if a phone call were to happen, would it be the most significant breakthrough for Taiwan since the severance of diplomatic relations between China and the US? Chiang Wan-an stated that it depends on whether it happens, and also on the content and format of the call, making it difficult to predict at this time.

Xu Lixin pressed further, asking if Trump might ultimately stand Taiwan up. Chiang Wan-an reiterated that these are highly hypothetical questions, and the relevant information is currently obtained through the media. He stressed that there are many uncertain factors, and all possibilities exist, with much of the information being hypothetical and unverified.

Xu Lixin then asked if, after the Trump-Xi meeting, Trump would indefinitely extend or not approve the military purchase case for Taiwan. Chiang Wan-an said that because the second batch has not yet been approved, there has been much discussion among various parties, involving many factors, including the recently concluded Trump-Xi meeting, and many rumors, including whether Trump would speak with President Lai Ching-te. These factors will all affect the progress of individual cases. However, he reiterated his stance of supporting the strengthening of Taiwan's defense capabilities and the necessity and reasonableness of military procurement, pointing out that the Legislative Yuan recently smoothly passed the 780 billion NT dollar military purchase budget, which aligns with the expectations of the majority of the public.