Trump nominee backs Taiwan defense boost to 10% of GDP to face China
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John Noh, Trump’s nominee for Assistant War Secretary, urges Taiwan to spend up to 10% of GDP on defense as US-China tensions rise.
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Armored vehicles take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
John Noh, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security, voiced strong support on Tuesday for Taiwan dedicating up to 10% of its gross domestic product to defense, citing growing threats from China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Speaking during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Noh said, “It was President Trump who said that Taiwan, which is an island that faces an existential threat from the People's Liberation Army, from the Chinese military, should spend upwards to 10% of its GDP on defense. I strongly support that.”
Noh’s comments underscore the Trump administration’s increasingly transactional approach to defense policy in Asia, amid ongoing efforts to recalibrate US commitments in the region.
The Washington Post reported in September that President Trump had moved to halt military support for Taiwan as part of broader efforts to reach a trade agreement with Beijing. According to the report, discussions within the administration centered on whether the US should continue providing direct military aid or expect Taipei to finance its own defense acquisitions.
Policy shift amid trade talks with China
Some officials have reportedly argued that Taiwan can afford to purchase US-made weapons “as Israel and European allies do,” while others have warned that scaling back support would embolden Beijing and undermine deterrence in the region.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949 following the Chinese Civil War, though Beijing continues to view the island as part of its territory and has vowed to pursue “reunification.” The Chinese government opposes any official foreign contact with Taipei and asserts that sovereignty over the island is “indisputable.”
The Trump administration has oscillated between courting Beijing for economic reasons and reaffirming its commitment to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Noh’s statement signals that defense hawks within Washington continue to view Taiwan as a critical line of deterrence in the face of China’s expanding military power.
Analysts say that if confirmed, Noh’s stance could shape the future of US security cooperation with Asian allies and deepen tensions with Beijing, which routinely denounces US arms sales and political engagement with Taipei as violations of its sovereignty.
China reaffirms stance on Taiwan
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun delivered a keynote speech at the Xiangshan Forum on Thursday morning, reiterating China’s uncompromising position on Taiwan and highlighting the importance of regional and global stability.
Addressing over 1,800 participants from more than 100 countries, Dong criticized what he described as “the rule of the jungle” and Cold War-era mentalities, which he said foster disorder in international relations. He emphasized that a divided world dominated by might over right would lead to instability, and called for greater international unity.
On Taiwan, Dong reaffirmed Beijing’s stance that the island’s return is an integral part of the post-World War II international order.
“The People’s Liberation Army will never allow any separatist plot to succeed, nor tolerate foreign military interference,” he stated.
Dong’s speech comes amid increasing China-US tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and broader economic and military competition. While emphasizing China’s territorial claims and vision for a multipolar world order, his remarks signal Beijing’s readiness to defend its claims against external interference.
